Residents can Sign up Now for Program to Reduce Food Waste & Save Money on Groceries
Registration is now open for the Fast Track to Reducing Food Waste, the latest City of Ann Arbor program to help residents build the knowledge and motivation to change food waste habits at home. Offered in collaboration with the local nonprofit ZeroWaste.Org, the program runs June 8–29 and provides participants with daily food waste reduction tips, hands-on support and the opportunity to compete with neighbors for prizes from local businesses.
Over the course of the Fast Track to Reducing Food Waste program, participants will build a simple routine to help them anticipate and stop food waste before it happens. Along the way, they can earn points by taking small actions with a potential to significantly reduce resident food waste and save money on groceries. With brief daily email check-ins and the option to participate as a team, the Fast Track program combines an element of friendly competition with science-backed tactics proven to support sustainable behavior change. To participate, residents can register at zerowaste.org/fasttrack.
The Fast Track program is part of the A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality Plan, which includes a strategy to change use, reuse and dispose of materials, including food. Food waste is a major contributor to U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, equating to the annual emissions equivalent to 42 coal-fired power plants. And according to a new report from the EPA, the average household in the U.S. wastes more than 30% of their food. The Fast Track to Reducing Food Waste is one of a growing number of sustainable food programs from the City of Ann Arbor including the development of new food scrap drop-off bins, the Sustainable Food Business Coalition and the A²ZERO Community Cookbook.
Residents interested in getting to know more about sustainable food and Ann Arbor’s work to reduce waste and pollution are encouraged to join the city office of sustainability and innovations for A2ZERO Week, June 1–7, 2025, for a week-long celebration of climate action featuring local food, resources, prizes and more. Explore the full schedule at osi.a2gov.org/a2zeroweek.
# # # # #
Media Contact:
Azella Markgraf, Sustainable Food Coordinator, City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations, amarkgraf@a2gov.org