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Thought for food: Ramsey County's Food Waste Diversion Program

Have you ever thought about where excess food and food waste from restaurants, grocery stores and schools go? In many cases, edible food that goes unsold or uneaten ends up in the trash. These groups produce about 40% of all food waste, which wastes the resources and work that went into producing and transporting it, as well as the potential for feeding people. 

Ramsey County gives a discount on license fees to businesses that keep food out of the trash through the Food Waste Diversion Program. Businesses who participate agree to keep food out of the trash by donating extra food that is still safe to eat to hunger relief agencies, sending food scraps to livestock producers to feed animals or collecting food scraps for composting. 

Participants in the Food Waste Diversion Program save money and positively impact the community by reducing overall food waste. Businesses and schools that participate receive a 20% discount off of their food license. Recovering food can help feed our communities and reduce waste. 

The benefits of participating in this program extend further. In a 2024 Ramsey County resident survey, 61% of Ramsey County residents who were polled said they would be more likely to visit a restaurant if they participated in food collection or donation. 

Currently, seven food businesses participate in the Food Waste Diversion Program. They include: 

• Axels Charhouse at DoubleTree by Hilton Roseville. 

• Kwik Trip, Inc. 

• Lunds & Byerlys. 

• Ramsey County Correctional Facility (RCCF) and Juvenile Detention Center (JDC). 

• Sweet Nothing. 

• Ramsey County Adult Detention Center. 

• Tipsy Steer.