NASHVILLE FOOD WASTE INITIATIVE
The Nashville Food Waste Initiative (NFWI) drives citywide policies and strategies that reduce food waste by preventing wasted food, rescuing surplus food for those in need, and composting and recycling food scraps to build healthy soil. The NFWI was founded by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in 2015 and is a partnership between Urban Green Lab and the Environmental Law Institute.
Through the NFWI, Urban Green Lab organizes, trains, and connects diverse food waste stakeholders year-round and offers training through our divisions for how you can reduce food waste in your own institution.
Sustainable Food Consumption Efforts
Waste Less - Mural Project
Urban Green Lab, in partnership with NRDC and the Kroger Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation, is commissioning a series of murals across Nashville to celebrate the beauty of food and encourage the public to waste less.
Kitchens 2 Kitchens
Nashville has a lot of wonderful restaurants, but restaurants can be a large source of food waste. Kitchens 2 Kitchens is a network of Nashville chefs helping other chefs reduce food waste in restaurant kitchens.
Kitchens 2 Kitchens
Nashville has a lot of wonderful restaurants, but restaurants can be a large source of food waste. Kitchens 2 Kitchens is a network of Nashville chefs helping other chefs reduce food waste in restaurant kitchens.
Previous Projects
Change Adds Up
We waste too much food. It's not our intention, but it is a truth we all need to face. There are many reasons we let food go to waste. However, there are many small steps that each of us can take to address this issue. By making a few small changes to how you approach food, together, we can all create change that adds up to a better Nashville.
Mayor's Food Saver Challenge
The Nashville Mayor’s Office, Metro Nashville Department of Public Works’ Solid Waste Division, and the Nashville Food Waste Initiative partnered in January 2017 to challenge area restaurants to work to reduce their food waste over a 30-day time frame by taking five steps from a menu of options.
Mayor's Food Saver Challenge
The Nashville Mayor’s Office, Metro Nashville Department of Public Works’ Solid Waste Division, and the Nashville Food Waste Initiative partnered in January 2017 to challenge area restaurants to work to reduce their food waste over a 30-day time frame by taking five steps from a menu of options.
Key Successes
Developed citywide food waste policy recommendations for Metro Government
Integrated food waste lessons in schools across Nashville
Leading the Nashville community in collecting and analyzing food waste metrics for the city
Selected accomplishments since the program started.
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Restaurants mobilized to join the Mayor's Food Saver Challenge and adopt food waste reduction strategies