Logo courtesy of Yolo Food Bank

WOODLAND, CA (MPG) - A partnership between Yolo County and Yolo Food Bank has cut the amount of food bank waste sent to landfill by nearly 200 tons in two years, while supporting the county’s efforts to meet California’s organic waste reduction goals.

Yolo Food Bank sent 302.45 tons of waste to landfill in fiscal year 2023-24. By fiscal year 2025-26, that amount had fallen to 108.01 tons, a reduction of about 64 percent.

“This partnership shows what Yolo County and Yolo Food Bank can accomplish by working together to reduce waste,” said Sheila Allen, chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. “Keeping this material out of the landfill conserves valuable landfill space and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also provides a model for how counties and food banks can work together to reduce waste.”

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with Yolo Food Bank in 2024 as part of the County’s work to meet the requirements of Senate Bill 1383. The state law seeks to reduce organic waste sent to landfills and increase the recovery of edible food for people who need it.

Under the agreement, Yolo Food Bank separates food that cannot be distributed and sends packaged food waste to the Yolo County Central Landfill’s depackaging facility. The facility separates food from its packaging so the organic material can be composted rather than buried in the landfill.

The reduction reflects work by Yolo Food Bank staff to sort waste streams and by Yolo County Central Landfill staff and operators to process the material.

“Our partnership with the Yolo County Central Landfill reflects our shared commitment to recovering as much edible food as possible for community members facing food insecurity while also reducing food waste,” said Genevieve Pyeatt, deputy director of Yolo Food Bank. “This partnership helps us make the best use of the food we receive while keeping as little as possible from going to waste.”

Community members who would like to learn more about supporting Yolo Food Bank can visit yolofoodbank.org.

The Yolo County Central Landfill supports a range of programs aimed at reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Funding for the County’s SB 1383 efforts is currently provided through CalRecycle’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutants Local Assistance Grant Program.