EPA Pacific Southwest - Region 9

Keeping Food Out of Landfills

Food is the largest single material going to landfills across the nation — almost 35 million tons each year at a cost of more than $1 billion. Wasting food also wastes energy, water and resources that go into producing, packaging and transporting it. As food rots in a landfill, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that's at least 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide. EPA is partnering with cities like San Jose, Calif. and other organizations to reduce wasted food.

• SF Chronicle: Digesting and Composting Toward Zero Waste Exit
• More about the San Jose Zero Waste Program
• EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge
• EPA’s Wasted Food and Packaging Toolkit

Preventing Air Pollution

Developing Our Environmental Workforce

EPA’s Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Program (EWDJT) supports green jobs. EWDJT grants fund local job training organizations to teach people the skills needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment in the environmental field. A majority of students in the job training programs are low-income, minority, unemployed and under-employed people living in areas affected by hazardous waste.

• Green Job Training for Communities
• Environmental Workforce and Job Training Program

Supporting Small Business Innovation

EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program has awarded $300,000 to a California company to produce low-cost, zero-emission polymers from sustainable materials for use in a water-based wood coating. Supporting the growth of environmental small businesses grows the economy and helps protect the health of our communities.

• WN.com: EPA Awards $300,000 to California Company Exit

• Small Business Innovation Research Program