C40 Workshop on Food Waste: Seattle, October 27-28

Seattle recently hosted sustainability and food‑system leaders from seven major U.S. cities as part of the C40 Food Procurement & Food Waste Prevention Convening,  a two‑day workshop co‑led by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) and the Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE). The gathering highlighted how cities can reduce food waste, strengthen local food systems, and advance climate goals together.

SPU General Manager Andrew Lee and OSE Director Lyliana Allala kicked off the convening with remarks celebrating Seattle’s long-standing leadership in food waste reduction from implementing curbside food waste collection in 2005 to enacting the universal food‑waste‑from‑garbage ban in 2015, which has helped reduce food waste going to landfill by almost 30 percent. The discussion made the point that we can’t compost our way out of food waste, and that preventing food waste in the first place has significantly more climate benefits when we can also avoid wasting all the resources to grow, transport, store and sell that food.

Participants also learned from industry representatives (such as UW Sustainability, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Public Schools, and Pike Place Market) whose work includes purchasing plant-based foods, developing menus, and preventing food waste. Learning directly from these large-scale institutions could help cities amplify solutions and connect food procurement with food waste for stronger climate impacts.

A highlight of the convening included tours with community partners:

• Seattle Public Schools’ Central Kitchen, demonstrating values‑aligned procurement and scratch‑cooking approaches that reduce waste; and
• The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, where staff showcased operational strategies for food waste prevention. Attendees enjoyed a snack and drink from food that would have otherwise gone to waste. The Fairmont Director of Culinary is also SPU’s Food Waste Ambassador and has played a pivotal role in SPU’s Food Waste Collaborative work with hotels.

Throughout the workshop, cities shared strategies, challenges, and innovations and reinforced that meaningful climate progress moves forward when cities learn together. Seattle is proud to contribute local leadership and national collaboration to help build a more resilient, climate‑smart future, with less food waste.

Learn more about the work C40 is doing.

Learn more about SPU’s Food Waste Collaborative.

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