Fiscal Note
No impact at this time. Recommendations may have budget implications in the future, subject to review and approval by the Common Council.
Title
SUBSTITUTE- Directing the Madison Food Policy Council in consultation with appropriate city staff to review, analyze, and provide recommendations on sustainable practices regarding food waste relating to collections, composting, and delivery of services to all areas of the city.
Body
WHEREAS, local and regional food systems are a closed loop where food thrown away never leaves the system, and;
WHEREAS, a strong local and regional food system encompasses sustainable practices relating to the disposal and transformation of food waste, and;
WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that over 35 million tons of food is wasted every year, representing the largest share by type of waste that makes it to landfill, and;
WHEREAS, it is estimated that approximately forty percent of all food that is produced is eventually makes its way to the landfill, and;
WHEREAS, food waste is a concern in all neighborhoods in the city and has implications for households, businesses, and institutions in the city and region, and;
WHEREAS, much food is additionally wasted while still on trees and in fields and points to the issue of lack of gleaning help across the region, and;
WHEREAS, there are many strategies that a municipalities can adopt to reduce the impact of food waste from maximizing the use of the food that is produced, to the conversion of food waste in an anaerobic digester, and;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Common Council direct the Madison Food Policy Council, with the assistance and staffing of the Food and Alcohol Policy Coordinator, Recycling Coordinator, Facilities and Sustainability Manager and other key city staff as necessary to review, analyze, and provide recommendations on municipal action relating to food waste in at least the following five areas:
1. Source reduction
2. Excess delivery
3. Excess Transformation
4. Composting
5. Incineration
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Madison Food Policy Council review current city and county practices and request and utilize county input and resources to provide recommendations that reflect the regional context of the problem, and;
BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Madison Food Policy Council should work directly with institutions and businesses that face food waster challenges and gain knowledge on best practices and capitalize on private-public partnerships to address the issue, and;
BE FINALLY RESOLVED, that that the Madison Food Policy Council report back to the Mayor and Common Council with a preliminary report no later than August 15, 2015.