Applications Are Open For Phoenix Free Food Waste Education Program

The City of Phoenix’s Office of Environmental Programs and Arizona State University are offering a free educational program on how to prevent food waste in your home, including a year-long weekly compost collection service for up to 400 City of Phoenix residents. The Food Waste Watchers Program is part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-funded Phoenix Resilient Food System Initiative.

Through the program, residents in Phoenix will receive training on simple and practical tips to decrease household food waste such as better food purchasing, storing food practices, meal planning tools and will receive a composting service to collect their household food waste. Food waste can cost a family of four up to $1500 per year.

“The City of Phoenix is continuously working to make it easier for residents to live more sustainably,” Mayor Gallego said. “This program provides simple strategies to reduce food waste, in turn making our food system more resilient, reducing harmful carbon emissions, and saving families money. I encourage Phoenix residents who want to make a real difference in our community to apply for this empowering program.”

Qualifications include:

• Residents who meet the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) income requirements
• Those who live in one of the following City of Phoenix Villages: Alhambra, Laveen, Central City, Estrella, Maryvale, South Mountain or a food desert area in the Deer Valley or North Mountain Villages
• Residents must commit to participating in the program for one year.

Applications are being accepted through Oct. 31 and the program begins in mid-January 2024. For a full list of qualifications and to apply, visit Phoenix.gov/OEP/Food-Waste.