EPA Region 10 Brings Feed It Onward Initiative to Boise, Idaho, for Food Waste Prevention Week
BOISE, IDAHO — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today its partnership with the city of Boise to reduce food waste as part of the agency’s Feed It Onward initiative. EPA and the city marked Food Waste Prevention Week with a spotlight on innovative local solutions that are making a measurable difference for families and the environment.
“Boise’s commitment to reducing food waste is a model for communities nationwide,” said EPA Region 10 Administrator Emma Pokon. “By expanding composting access and providing food waste prevention tools, Boise empowers residents to take meaningful, everyday action—building a better future for the city and setting an example other communities can follow.”
“Boise is proud to participate in EPA’s Feed It Onward initiative and share what we’ve learned with communities across the region,” said Steve Burgos, City of Boise Public Works Director. “Our compost program depends on Boise residents doing their part. Thanks to their participation, we compost more than a third of the city’s residential waste each year, keeping it out of the landfill and creating high-quality compost to give back to the community.”
More than a third of food in the United States goes uneaten each year, costing families thousands of dollars and contributing to landfill waste and methane emissions. According to EPA’s 2025 report, the average annual food waste cost per person is $728, and for a family of four, it’s $2,913—representing 11% of household food spending. Nationwide, over 133 billion pounds of food are wasted annually, while millions of families struggle with food insecurity.
EPA’s Feed It Onward initiative, launched in 2025, seeks to remedy this problem by connecting food donors with communities in need and spotlighting practical solutions—from donation and animal feed to composting and innovative recovery.
Boise has emerged as a national model, with its residential composting program now serving 97% of households. This program diverts food scraps from landfills, transforming them into nutrient-rich compost that supports local parks, gardens, and agricultural operations. More than one-third of Boise’s residential waste is composted annually, preserving landfill capacity, improving soil health, and strengthening local food production.
Boise launched its free Food Scrap Drop Off Program in 2024, expanding composting access to residents in apartments, condos, and homes without curbside service. As of August 2026, over 450 participants use four convenient drop-off locations citywide. The program pairs practical services with education—participants receive monthly newsletters featuring storage tips, food preservation techniques, recipes, and meal planning ideas to help households stretch their budgets and reduce waste.
To learn more about Feed It Onward and Boise’s food waste initiatives, visit Feed it Onward.