Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

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09/30/2026

Connecticut Celebrates Food Waste Prevention Week September 28-October 4

DEEP celebrates everyday heroes that prevent unnecessary food loss

(HARTFORD)—Connecticut generates about 3.3 tons of municipal solid waste annually, which includes roughly 150,000 tons of excess edible food. At the same time, Connecticut has the highest rate of food insecurity in New England at 15.3%, impacting over 560,000 residents. 

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) supports many food waste prevention and food recovery, working with businesses, municipalities and regional groups to prevent food waste and to divert a larger share of food scraps for composting.  

These programs include the Sustainable Materials Management Grant program and the Management Infrastructure Grant program, both of which provide funding to municipalities to reduce organic waste and to support regional cooperation and development of food scrap processing. DEEP also contracts with the Center for EcoTechnology (CET) to provide free technical assistance to businesses to learn how to reduce food waste, donate surplus food and divert food scraps through composting. Through these programs and more, DEEP is pushing the needle forward for better use of surplus food and food scraps to reduce food waste. 

This week, Connecticut is celebrating everyday heroes that prevent food loss in their home or commercial kitchens, extend the season through canning and pickling, educate youth and adults on how to cook and know when food is no longer safe to eat, volunteer for food recovery organizations, farmers that glean (gather leftover crops following the main commercial harvest) and donate surplus food, and more.  

“DEEP is very excited to recognize “Food Heroes in Our Neighborhood” during Connecticut Food Waste Prevention Week,” said Acting DEEP Commissioner Emma Cimino. “Through programs like the Sustainable Materials Management Grant program and the Management Infrastructure Grant program, DEEP is working hand in hand with towns and regional organizations to divert organic material from the waste stream, with the goal of reducing waste and helping communities save on disposal costs. We’re also proud to recognize the many other efforts happening across the state, beyond those we’re highlighting this week, that are helping to reduce food waste in Connecticut and feed people.” 

DEEP’s Food Waste Prevention and Food Recovery Roadmap, which outlines challenges and opportunities for businesses and institutions to reduce food loss and donate surplus food, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. It will also identify ways to support entities that would collect and receive excess food. Preliminary data shows Connecticut is recovering only 1-2% of the excess or surplus food in Connecticut. 

Food Heroes in Our Neighborhood 

This year’s campaign focuses on Food Heroes in Our Neighborhood. While there are many more heroes working on these efforts around the state, Connecticut is pleased to highlight these individuals in Connecticut helping others reduce food waste at home, recover food in their communities, educate others, and make more food available for those who are hungry. While Connecticut has been a leader in organics recycling, these leadership examples underscore the opportunities across the state to prevent food loss and recover more food for human consumption. 

  • Mayor Dorinda Borer/City of West Haven - leadership in passing an ordinance requiring city departments to donate excess and surplus food so it does not go to waste and feeds people. 
  • Reggie Saint Fortcolin – created Fridgeport, a community food sharing mechanism, providing recovered food that is accessible to all in Bridgeport. 
  • Real Food CT and their partner farms – Real Food CT helps farms learn how to recover surplus food and/or glean to ensure that food does not go to waste and feeds people and their partner farms who coordinate all the gleaning. 
  • Nadine Nelson – chef and activist shows how food recovery and everyday food choices can connect environmental care, creativity, culture, and community. 
  • Yellow Farmhouse Education Center - provides education to culinary educators, which includes using leftovers, using surplus food from school kitchens and cafeterias, donating their own excess food as well as composting and worm composting. 
  • Kim O’Rourke – former long-time recycling coordinator in the Town of Middletown who spearheaded food waste prevention, food recovery and organic recycling initiatives. Kim passed away in March of this year and is given this nomination posthumously. 
  • Caty Poole - provides workshops and social media promotion helping residents learn how to extend the life of food through pickling, canning, etc. 

DEEP hosted a webinar with Food Rescue US and Haven’s Harvest, two food recovery organizations in Connecticut, which together recover over 8 million pounds of edible food annually. Speakers will include different food business sectors that donate their surplus food to these organizations. In addition, look for events around the state taking place to learn more about reducing food waste, food recovery or composting food scraps. 

There are many volunteer options for residents looking to help including Haven’s Harvest, Food Rescue US, Real Food CT, Danbury Food Collaborative, CT Foodshare or local food pantry. 

More information: 

Twitter: @CTDEEPNews
Facebook: DEEP on Facebook

Contact

DEEP Communications  
DEEP.Communications@ct.gov
860-424-4100

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