Mini-Grants for Businesses Available to Aid Food Recovery and Waste Reduction

Posted on August 3, 2023

Zero Waste Marin is administering a pilot mini-grant program that aims to provide support to businesses that need to comply with the edible food requirements included in SB 1383. If successful and if budget allows, this program could possibly expand in the future to help additional businesses.

Mini-Grant Amount: Up to $7,500.

Deadline: Mini grant applications will be reviewed as they are received, and funds will be available until the total mini grant allocation is spent down.

Requirements:

  • Must be an edible food generator covered under the edible food donation requirements in SB 1383
  • Must be located within Marin County

Rules for Expending Grant Funds:

Grant recipients will have the following options for spending grant funds:

  • Order from Fishman Supply: Grant recipients can send links of items available on the Fishman Supply website to Zero Waste Marin staff for ordering. Zero Waste Marin staff will order the items (up to the maximum grant amount) and have them shipped to the business address provided. Items must be related to edible food recovery: e.g., kitchen food scales, storage solutions, etc.
  • Food Waste Reduction Service: Grant recipients can opt to work with a service such as LeanPath or Copia that will help analyze the food waste generated at a business and provide suggestions for ways to reduce food waste. Zero Waste Marin will pay for the cost of this service, up to the maximum grant amount. Please note that eligible costs under this part of the mini grant would only be for a service that helps a business identify ways to reduce how much food is wasted through better ordering practices or food preparation etc. Costs associated with food pick-up and donation would not be eligible, as there are already free options for this service available in the County of Marin.
  • Reimbursement: If the grant recipient does not wish to pursue either of the options above, Zero Waste Marin will reimburse expenses directly related to edible food recovery such as a refrigerator, refrigerated van, etc. The grantee will be responsible for providing an invoice of the related expense to Zero Waste Marin staff, who will then verify the invoice and reimburse the business up to the maximum grant amount.

How to apply:

Fill out the online form available here. If you need the questions in Spanish, please email Casey Fritz at CFritz@MarinCounty.org.

Learn more about SB1383 for Businesses.

ExtraFood is going places!

Posted on February 25, 2021

Extra Food logoKnow of a business or school with extra food? 

ExtraFood, a county-wide nonprofit food rescue program, picks up excess fresh food, 7/365 and free of charge, and immediately gets it to vulnerable children, older adults, and families who need it the most. In seven years, ExtraFood has rescued and delivered 4,500,000 pounds of food to more than 8,000 people throughout Marin. Plus, every 100 pounds of food rescued prevents the equivalent emissions of 234 driving miles! These efforts address the critical issues of hunger, wasted food and climate change.

Want to learn more or ask for a pickup? Click here for details.

Love Food, Not Waste During Stay-at-Home

Posted on May 26, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic means stocking up on groceries and more meals at home. However, more food preparation at home could also mean more food waste! The Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition (BayROC) has responded to this with renewed promotion of their food waste prevention campaign. You may see these ads all over the Bay Area in the coming weeks. Messages include:

1. Using the Whole Ingredient

2. Food Storage Tips:

3. Getting Creative with Leftovers:

See LoveFoodNotWaste.org

keeping strawberries fresh

For more tips and examples, see:

Zero Waste Essentials During Shelter-at-Home

Posted on April 30, 2020

During this challenging time, moving toward zero waste may not be at the top of our to-do lists. The COVID-19 restrictions — such as reducing trips to the store, the ban on reusable bags and cups, and the closing of drop-off facilities — present multiple challenges to our usual waste reduction habits. But it is still possible — and desirable! — to waste as little as possible as we strive to stay healthy and sane. Below are tips to encourage waste prevention, reuse, and proper recycling as we all shelter at home.

leftovers in containers1. Prevent Food Waste

These days we may be buying more at each trip to the store, so we don’t go as often. We are preparing most, if not all meals, at home. It is more important than ever to shop smart, store food correctly, understand expiration dates, and use up what we have at home before it spoils.

See this page for more tips on food waste prevention.

 

2. Deliver Bags and Boxes to the Right Place

As we order more online and temporarily can’t use our reusable bags at stores, paper and plastic bags and cardboard boxes are piling up! Here’s what you can do:

cardboard boxesStore and reuse bags:

  • Paper bags can hold kitchen scraps for compost.
  • Plastic bags are not recyclable in your curbside cart. Use them to store fruit and vegetables in the fridge and to dispose of pet waste.

  • Many shoppers are choosing, when possible, to just put their items back into their cart or basket without taking a bag, and then pack up items in their car or bicycle.
  •  

Reuse or recycle cardboard boxes:

  • Keep those boxes to store the items planned for donation (see below).
  • Break down delivery boxes and fit into recycling bins, making sure the lid closes.

box of items for donation3. Spring Cleaning? Collect, Sort and Store

After staying at home for weeks, you may be more aware of clutter and be moved to remove! During the shelter-at-home order, many facilities for drop-off and donation are closed or reducing services, including those that collect paint, batteries, bulbs, hazardous waste and e-waste. At this time, it’s best to collect, sort and store your no-longer-needed items to take for reuse, recycling and donation after we get the all-clear.

Goodwill is open for sales online and offers contact-free donation centers in Mill Valley and Novato only. Learn more.

See resources for how to recycle here..

flower pots for donation4. Zero Waste Yard Work

Some of us have more time these days to spend in the yard and garden. Here are some tips:

  • Yard and garden waste, such as clippings, flowers, grass and leaves, can go in your green cart.
  • Maybe now’s the time to start composting at home! See tips here.
  • Time to move along those tired pots or that statue that no longer appeals? Place them in your “to donate” box and find them a new home when the stay-at-home is lifted.
  • Some things never change! Pet waste should always, always go in the garbage.

Hang in there, Marin! Thanks for keeping Zero Waste essential!

New Veggie Box Program Delivers Nutrition, Prevents Waste

Posted on April 16, 2020
While schools are closed, a new veggie box program from the San Pedro School Farm feeds families.

Marin schools are shut down, and so are school lunch programs. But fresh vegetables from the San Pedro School Farm that used to go to school kitchens are still helping Marin families get the wholesome nutrition they need. That’s thanks to a new program by nonprofit Sanzuma, which manages the farm and is now selling boxes filled with freshly harvested organic produce to Marin residents on a subscription basis. The income will enable Sanzuma to continue their core mission of teaching nutrition classes and helping schools grow their own fresh produce once schools reopen.

“In normal times our healthy greens would feed hundreds of students each week, and we know families out there need it,” says Sanzuma’s Executive Director Lori Davis. “This box program is a great alternative to shopping in grocery stores, and is our way to continue to feed our community. Besides, it would be a shame for all these wonderful veggies to go to waste.”

Sanzuma‘s commitment to zero waste extends to packaging as well. Each week’s produce delivery arrives at the pickup location in durable, reusable plastic totes. After customers transfer the contents into their own bags or boxes, the totes go back to Sanzuma to be thoroughly washed and sanitized before the they’re filled again.

zwm bags
Zero Waste Marin supports Sanzuma’s work in low income schools, including nutrition education, school farms and meal programs.

Like most Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, Sanzuma’s boxes contain a mix of whatever produce is currently in season, but with a twist: an occasional wellness gift, like hand-made soaps, teas and flowers. “During this tough time, we need healthy food, but we need something for the soul as well,” says Davis. In addition, one box is donated to a family in need every other week.

The program has already been a huge success, with all subscription slots filled for now. Sanzuma is already thinking about how to scale up and plans to keep the veggie boxes going even when school deliveries are possible again. To get on the waiting list and to learn more about Sanzuma’s work with Marin schools, visit www.sanzuma.org.

Reusable Takeout Container Partnership Launches Dec. 7

Posted on December 3, 2019

Join the City of San Rafael and Whole Foods Market San Rafael to celebrate the launch of a new reusable takeout container program called GO BOX. From noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, you can sign up for the program and try the containers on-site! There will also be perks and prizes, including a $100 Whole Foods gift certificate to one lucky participant. Come be an early adopter and show off your commitment to a Zero Waste goal! Hope to see you at the booth!

What: GO BOX Reusable Container Launch Event

When: Saturday, Dec. 7, noon – 6:00 p.m.

Where: Whole Foods San Rafael, 340 Third Street, San Rafael