Waste Not, Want Not
Waste Not, Want Not

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The words Fight Food Waste spelled out using fruits and vegetables

Waste Not, Want Not (WiN-WiN) Kentucky

The Waste Not, Want Not (WiN-WiN) program at the University of Kentucky is a community-driven initiative designed to tackle the dual challenges of food insecurity and food waste in Kentucky. By recovering surplus food from farms, home gardeners, and food producers and redirecting it to those in need, the project promotes sustainable solutions that benefit both people and the environment. Through partnerships, education, and training, WiN-WiN empowers non-profit community organizations that feed individuals to reduce food loss and waste while fostering healthier, more resilient communities.

Pile of decomposing food scraps

133 Billion 

Approximately 133 billion pounds of food is wasted each year in the United States.

Learn more from the USDA

Children lying on the floor looking up at the camera

1 in 5

In Kentucky, 1 in 5 children and 1 in 6 adults experience food insecurity.

Learn more from Feeding America

A landfill

6%

Only 6% of the 40 million pounds of food wasted in Kentucky each year is diverted from landfills.

Learn more from Glean KY

Programs & Partners

Learn more about our partner organizations in Jessamine County.

Learn more about our Partners

Preventing Food Loss Waste

Access resources, information, and educational tools about Food Loss Waste (FLW).

Learn more about Preventing Waste

How to Get Involved

Find ways to get involved by donating produce or helping to transport it.

Learn more about How to Get Involved

Images showing the stages of the food recovery system

Food is grown on a farm → transported → stored before use → prepared for either consumption or long-term storage → scrapped for compost or animal feed

The Local Food Recovery System

This image illustrates the local food recovery system, highlighting key stages from farm to table and beyond. At each step in the cycle, from harvesting on farms, transporting and storing food, preparing meals in kitchens, to eventual consumption and composting, there are critical opportunities to reduce food loss and waste. Whether it’s minimizing surplus at the farm, improving storage to prevent spoilage, using creative meal preparation techniques to reduce scraps, or ensuring leftovers are properly managed, small actions at each stage can make a big impact. By recognizing and addressing these points, we can create a more efficient, sustainable food system that nourishes communities while reducing environmental impact.

Map of Operations

Map of Jessamine County with partner locations noted

 

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This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2023-38640-39572 through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number FLW24-011. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Logos for the USDA and SARE

 

Connect With Us

WiN-WiN logo

209 A1 Funkhouser Building
Lexington, KY 40506
win.win@uky.edu

Dawn Brewer

Program Director
Dawn Brewer, PhD, RD, LD
dawn.brewer@uky.edu

Lauren Batey

Program Coordinator
Lauren Batey MS, RD, LD
lauren.batey@uky.edu

 

Tammy Stephenson

Department Chair
Tammy Stephenson, PhD, FAND
tammy.stephenson@uky.edu

Contact Information

202 Funkhouser Building Lexington, KY 40506-0054