EPA Launches “Feed It Onward” Initiative to Reduce Food Waste, Support Communities
The new voluntary program connects farms, food providers, and military bases with communities in need, aiming to cut food waste, save families money, and reduce landfill impacts.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- September 05, 2025
The EPA has launched a new voluntary program, Feed It Onward, designed to reduce food waste and enhance food security nationwide.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the initiative at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, where Frey Farms delivered a truckload of fresh produce that otherwise would have gone to a landfill. The food was distributed to military families on base.
“Feed It Onward highlights how Americans of all walks of life—farmers, service members, business owners, and government officials—can join hands and help our fellow Americans,” Zeldin said.
Sarah Frey, CEO of Frey Farms, said the partnership reflects her company’s mission to ensure “good food should never go to waste,” while supporting families and reducing environmental impacts.
EPA data show more than one-third of food in the United States goes uneaten, making food waste the largest component of materials sent to landfills. The agency’s 2025 report estimates consumers lose about $728 annually to food waste, with a family of four wasting $3,000 each year.
Feed It Onward connects farms, restaurants, grocery stores, food brands, and military bases with local communities to keep food out of landfills and into the hands of those who need it. The program will also spotlight food recovery initiatives nationwide as part of the America 250 celebration.
More information is available at epa.gov/feeditonward.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for EPOnline.