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Media Advisory No. 0086.15 Contact: Federal Government to Join with Private Sector, Charitable Organizations to Set Nation’s First Food Waste Reduction Goals NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2015 – On WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will join officials from the Environmental Protection Agency as well as private industry and charitable organizations to announce the United States’ first food waste reduction goals at City Harvest’s Food Rescue Facility in Long Island City, N.Y. This first-ever initiative will set a national goal for food waste reduction within a specific timeframe. The announcement occurs just one week before world leaders begin to gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York to address sustainable development practices and goals, including sustainable production and consumption. Food loss and waste in the United States accounts for approximately 31 percent—or 133 billion pounds—of the overall food supply available to retailers and consumers and has far-reaching impacts on food security, resource conservation and climate change. As the single greatest contributor to municipal landfills, food waste quickly generates methane, which fuels climate change. In 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and EPA launched the first-ever U.S. Food Waste Challenge, calling for partnerships across the food chain between farms, agricultural processors, manufacturers, grocery stores, restaurants, universities, schools, and local governments to reduce, recover and recycle food waste. City Harvest won the Challenge for 2014. “The United States enjoys the most productive and abundant food supply on earth, but too much of this food goes to waste,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This announcement will demonstrate America’s leadership on a global level in reducing the amount of food that ends up in our country’s landfills, cutting environmental pollution and promoting innovation.” Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015 WHO: WHAT: WHERE: Members of the media, please RSVP to Adriane.brown@xxxxxxxxxxx #
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