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Food Waste Diversion
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Donating food
Donating food to reduce waste is good for the environment and feeds those in need.
Find a hunger relief agency
- Try using Meal Connect to learn how and where to donate perishable food. Meal Connect organizes transportation to collect and deliver food to partner kitchens.
- You can also partner directly with a hunger relief agency. Many can be found on Ramsey County's food access locations map.
Keep food safe when donating
- Food must be in good condition and not served to customers.
- Hot food donated hot must be kept at or above 135 degrees Farenheit.
- Hot food donated cold must be cooled from 135 to 70 degrees Farenheit within two hours, and to 41 degrees Farenheit within six hours.
- Cold food must be kept at or below 41 degrees Farenheit.
- Label food and list possible allergens.
- Mark the date food was prepared.
Protected liability
- Businesses and organizations that safely donate food to a nonprofit for distribution to those in need are not subject to civil or criminal liability (PDF) that may arise from the condition of the food.
- Food donors are protected by the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Act.
Food waste to livestock
Feeding food waste to livestock can be an economical and nutritious form of animal feed. It also must be done properly because food waste containing or exposed to meat can carry disease.
Livestock producers must have a permit from the Minnesota Board of Animal Health to ensure they take steps to prevent disease. Food waste should only be sent to permitted livestock producers found on the Minnesota Board of Animal Health website.
Food scraps collection
Non-residential trash service customers pay a 53% County Environmental Charge for trash collected in Ramsey County. These charges do not apply to food scraps collected for composting.
Separating food scraps and compostable items for food scraps collection can save a significant amount of money. BizRecycling offers grants to help businesses get started.
Most waste haulers operating in Ramsey County offer food scraps collection services for commercial customers. Contact your waste hauler for more information.