Food Waste Advocacy & Resources

Good food belongs on plates, not in landfills. Whether you are looking for food recovery tools in Cincinnati, statewide networks in Ohio, or simple ways to cut waste at home, this page is a starting point. Below you will find practical tips, trusted resources, and a look at the network La Soupe works alongside to direct food to its next best use: feeding individuals in need.

FOOD RECOVERY IN ACTION ACROSS OHIO

Across Ohio, a growing network rescues surplus food at every point in the supply chain, from local farms to grocery stores and restaurants. Rescue kitchens like La Soupe step in to transform this surplus into fresh, nourishing meals.

We operate across nearly every tier of the EPA Wasted Food Scale to ensure quality food feeds people first:

  • Prevention & Education: Partnering with suppliers to minimize surplus and teaching consumers to cook with whole ingredients.

  • Rescue Transform Share®: Our core mission uses culinary innovation to preserve near-end-of-life food and increase access to ready-to-eat meals.

  • Responsible Diversion: What isn't suitable for human consumption is redirected to animal feed and composting. We strive to send zero waste to landfills or incinerators.

WHY IT MATTERS

In the U.S., over one-third of our food supply goes to waste, costing billions of dollars and consuming critical resources like land, water, and energy. Reducing food waste tackles this problem head-on:

  • Diverts Waste: Keeps high-quality, surplus food out of landfills.

  • Feeds Communities: Transforms bulk and specialty ingredients into nutritious meals for neighbors facing food insecurity.

  • Supports Partners: Reduces food costs for local organizations, freeing up funds for critical wraparound services.

Learn more in the full USDA overview.


LA SOUPE IN THE COMMUNITY

From guides and Impact Reports to cooking classes and community challenges, La Soupe shares practical tools all year long.

RESOURCES BY AUDIENCE

OUR PARTNERSHIPS

La Soupe is part of a growing coalition of organizations rethinking how food moves through our communities, locally and nationally.

    • City of Cincinnati and the Office of Environment and Sustainability 

      • Proud partner in the Green Cincinnati Plan

    • Green Umbrella / Green Schoolyards

    • Hamilton County ReSource, La Soupe is a certified 513 Green organization

    • Ohio Food Rescue Collaborative

    • Systems to Achieve Food Equity (SAFE) Network

    • Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

    • ReFED, La Soupe is a Solutions Provider

    • NRDC, Cincinnati Food Matters Partner

    • Zero Food Waste Coalition Member

    • National Food Rescue Association Member