EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy

The EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy is a framework guiding how to handle surplus food to minimize waste and maximize its benefit. It prioritizes actions starting with source reduction (preventing waste), then feeding hungry people, feeding animals, composting, and finally landfilling or incinerating as last options. The goal is to keep edible food out of landfills, where it produces harmful methane, and instead redirect it to help people or recover resources. By following this hierarchy, communities can reduce waste, save money, and support sustainability.