CRRA2021

Program Manager

A San Diego native, Geertje is dedicated to implementing food system solutions that synergistically benefit the local economy, environment, and society. Her career spans the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, including experience in sustainability consulting, data analytics, zero waste program development, and environmental education. As the Wasted Food Prevention Program Manager at San Diego Food System Alliance, she oversees consumer education, technical assistance, and network development initiatives that provide comprehensive food waste prevention services to food system stakeholders.

Addressing Food Recovery at the City-level and Beyond

SB 1383 requirements necessitate that cities become more involved with the food recovery scene within their city boundaries. But more often than not, food recovery crosses jurisdiction borders. Nonetheless, cities can play a unique role in supporting local efforts to prevent food waste and bolstering food recovery programs. 

San Diego Food System Alliance serves as a convener and network builder for the San Diego region food system. By bringing a complete food systems lens to the issue of food waste and food recovery, the Alliance seeks to educate and unify stakeholders. During this presentation, SDFSA will share strategies for cities to address food waste and food recovery within their cities and beyond.

Director, Research and Analysis

Dieter has spent much of his 16 years with Cascadia standing in landfills, leading primary data collection efforts to support weight-based diversion program evaluations for clients across the US from Honolulu to the five boroughs of New York City. As Cascadia’s Research and Analysis Director, Dieter is responsible for dozens of waste characterization projects each year, and he is always excited to talk trash.

Food Rescue in a Pandemic World

COVID-19 has upended most every aspect of our lives, including the solid waste system. Join us for an informative investigation of changes in the composition and quantity of waste correlated with COVID-19. This engaging presentation is rich with facts and figures gleaned from our extensive library of historical waste characterization data and the results of the many waste studies we have completed since the beginning of widespread stay at home orders in March 2020. We will wrap the presentation up by reviewing some of the surprising impacts the changing waste stream may have on achieving SB1383 and other organics diversion and food rescue legislation.

Executive Director

Jessica Toth is the Executive Director of Solana Center for Environmental Innovation. Solana Center and Jessica have received awards for vision and leadership in waste diversion, including Leadership in California Organics Diversion from CRRA (2019), San Diego EMIES UnWasted Food (2018), Top Business Women in San Diego (2017), and California Governor's Environmental & Economic Leadership (2016).  Solana Center pioneered curbside recycling decades ago and continues today to foster environmental change through outreach and consulting. She holds a Master's degree from MIT in Business and a Bachelor's degree from Cornell in Engineering.

Food Cycle on Farmlands

In 2017, Solana Center established Food Cycle, a proof-of-concept food scrap drop-off program. Staff and volunteers process food scrap into compost. Due to increasing interest, onsite processing capacity has grown from 0.5 to 15 cy. Currently, 150 regular participants drop off food scrap and collect finished compost for their own uses, resulting in potential 24 MTCO2e/year avoided.

Having successfully demonstrated the feasibility and accessibility of mid-scale composting to serve a local community, Solana Center plans to take our program to the next level. Food Cycle on Farmlands will accept food scrap from food-generating businesses to be composted at agricultural properties. In addition to avoided greenhouse gas emissions through diversion, this program will quantify carbon sequestration from land-applied compost.

Our broader vision is to replicate the successful elements of Food Cycle on Farmlands at San Diego County’s 5,700 small farms. Estimated carbon sequestration opportunity on all 242,000 acres of land in agricultural production in the County is over 11M MTCO2e.

The issues surrounding wasted food are significant, involving resource depletion, climate change, and food justice. Solana Center is developing replicable models that are garnering widespread national interest. Our organization is working inside regional systems to make wholesale change to behaviors as well as infrastructure by creating solutions that individuals, organizations, and communities can embrace. The presentation will describe the current Food Cycle program and the vision for regional implementation of a closed loop system from local farms to local grocers and back to farms.