On December 25, 2025, the head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lee Zeldin, urged people to cherish food and reduce waste as the holiday season approaches. He stated, “More than a third of the food in the United States is wasted every year… Actively reducing food waste is a common-sense, crucial effort that will help reshape America’s health.”
In an article published on Wednesday, December 24th, on the website of The Hill, Zeldin emphasized the importance of reducing food waste during the holidays.
When surplus food is reduced, transferred, or reused, families can have healthier diets, farmers and businesses can discover new value in products that might have otherwise gone to waste, and communities can strengthen the system that sustains America’s food supply. Making efforts to reduce food waste is a logical and crucial initiative that will contribute to revitalizing the health of America.
In his article, Zeldin pointed out the clear core concept of the EPA’s recent initiative “Feed It Onward”: to share successful cases of individuals and organizations nationwide dedicated to addressing the issue of food waste. This initiative aims to connect excess food to those who can make good use of it. Food that is still good and safe to eat should not end up in landfills.
Using Kansas City, Missouri as an example, Zeldin illustrated the feasibility of this approach. He wrote, “I visited Kanbe’s Markets in the area and met with the teams from Pete’s Garden and KC Can Compost. Local leaders are establishing practical, community-driven solutions that are truly inspiring.”
He introduced Kanbe’s Markets, which brings quality fruits and vegetables that traditional sales channels don’t accept to community small retail points, addressing the issue of access to fresh food for disadvantaged groups. The Pete’s Garden team repackages surplus food from restaurants and food companies into take-home dinners for families, and the KC Can Compost team expands composting services for households and businesses.
“These organizations working together have saved millions of pounds of food from ending up in landfills, helping families with food security, supporting farmers, and improving soil health. It’s a complete cycle and a powerful example of community coordination and resource sharing,” he wrote.
Furthermore, Zeldin mentioned that this summer, the EPA initiated the first “Feed It Onward” partner collaboration program at Scott Air Force Base in southern Illinois, partnering with Frey Farms to distribute farm produce that might be discarded due to appearance directly to military families, including watermelons, corn, and pumpkins, demonstrating the practical impact of the program.
He also stated that large venues across the country are making efforts to reduce food waste. For instance, facilities like the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama and the Kia Center, home to the Orlando Magic, have collaborated with food service and recycling companies to effectively convert surplus food into valuable community resources through planning and management, even in fast-paced and crowded environments.
Currently, the issue of food waste is receiving international attention. This year, at the G7 Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Toronto, Zeldin expressed that representatives from multiple countries expressed hopes to learn from the U.S. experience and promote their own campaigns to reduce waste.
He emphasized that with the United States set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, these major events will serve as opportunities to showcase the achievements in reducing food waste.
Zeldin stressed that the holiday season is the perfect time for reflecting on the value of food, and through the “Feed It Onward” initiative, delivering good food to families in need can ensure that the efforts of farmers and businesses yield positive results.