[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17138-17139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     EPA'S FOOD RECOVERY CHALLENGE

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 13, 2012

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in the United States, more than 34 
million tons of food waste is generated each year. Individuals, 
households, businesses, restaurants, hospitals, and schools are some of 
the many institutions that are contributing to this national dilemma. 
As a result, our landfills overflowing with food waste.
   We are challenged daily by the economic impacts that food waste has 
on our society. Clearly, we need to take action.
   The Environmental Protection Agency is confronting this issue with 
their Food Recovery Challenge. Specifically, the EPA is asking for 
participants to reduce their food waste through donation and recycling.
   Among food that is thrown away, a majority of it is wholesome and 
unspoiled. This could

[[Page 17139]]

be donated to help feed American people at soup kitchens or shelters. 
In other words, we should use food to feed people, not fill our 
landfills. Other food that is unfit for human consumption can be 
disposed of in an environmentally safe way, for example, composted.
   Two major universities in Houston are currently participating in the 
Environmental Protection Agency's Food Recovery Challenge. The 
University of Houston and Rice University have committed their efforts 
to reducing food waste on their campus.
   These Houston universities are setting a great example of how our 
country should be addressing issues at home. They are taking 
preventative action through the Food Recovery Challenge to fight our 
economic and environmental issues of tomorrow.
   This is one EPA idea that I support.
   And that's just the way it is.

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