FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The city of Farmington Hills is participating in a $4.6 million three-year program to eliminate food waste that advocates say is a threat to the climate.

Earlier this month, the city received an update on the program.

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“There is a direct relationship between landfilled food and a hotter planet,” the executive summary claimed. “Eliminating food waste is seen as ‘pulling the emergency brake’ on climate change because it’s something we can all do, relatively easily, inexpensively and quickly.”

Make Food Not Waste.

The food waste program is run by a Detroit nonprofit called Make Food Not Waste. It is based on a similar program started by the city of Southfield and would expand to 15 communities.

The United States Climate Alliance and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) both promote the plan.

The city of Farmington Hills has 11,915 tons of food waste produced each year, according to a calculation by the Natural Resources Defense Council. That food waste produces 6,586 tons of C02 emissions, which would require planting 270,000 trees every year to offset the greenhouse gases associated with sending the food waste to the landfill.

Churches, schools, and homes.

The program hopes to get schools, churches, residential homes, businesses and day care centers all involved in not wasting food.

A big part of the program involves “food rescues” where charitable organizations pick up or receive donated food across the food supply chain.