The Blackbird Foundation believes that redundancy in the social sector leads to a waste of precious resources. The Blackbird Foundation partners with sustainable organizations that are implementing and discovering long-term solutions to our local and global challenges. Right now they are actively building partnerships to help measure our food waste baseline in St. Louis, Missouri.

Watch a presentation from Danielle Korman, researcher for the Blackbird Foundation, discuss their Food Waste Audit.

Earthday365 seeks to inspire and mobilize a collaborative movement towards an equitable and environmnetally sustainable St. Louis region every day.  They envision a resilient, interconnected, and thriving human and natural environment for all generations through their values of equity, education, action, collaboration, and celebration.  

Through virtual programs, Recycling on the Go, and the Green Dining Alliance, Earthday365 reaches more than one million people annually.

Too Good to Waste  Home Food Waste Audit 

Food Outreach’s mission is to provide nutritional support and enhance the quality of life of men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS or cancer. Food Outreach clients live in 160 Missouri and Illinois zip codes and range in age from 5 to 88 years – many of whom live with multiple secondary illnesses in addition to their primary diagnosis. They serve their mission through:

• Client Services
• Meals & Groceries
• Nutrition Counseling & Education
• Meal Delivery
• Links to Resources

The Food Pantry Tax Credit provides a tax credit for taxpayers who make donations of cash or food supplies to a qualified local food pantry, homeless shelter, or soup kitchen.

The East Side Health District (ESHD) was established in 1937. Over its history the East Side Health District has been devoted to improving public health and the environment of the residents of Cantten Township, Centreville Township, East St. Louis Township and Stites Township by providing preventive health care throughout our community. The F.R.E.S.H. Community Teaching Garden is our latest Program to support ESHD’s mission of wellness promotion in the community.

Fresh Food Connect started as a pilot project in Denver, CO.  Its successes led to technology that engages backyard gardeners and community gardeners in hunger relief efforts.  You can connect with organizations in Missouri that can provide your food to those in need.

Gateway Greening edcuates and empowers people to strengthen their communities through gardening and urban agriculture.  Through community gardens, education programs, and the land trust, Gateway Greening connects people to the land, to their food, and to each other.

The Green Dining Alliance is a restaurant sustainability certification program through EarthDay365.  The GDA works with restaurants to reduce their environmental impact by completing an on-site audit that evaluates all areas of operations, and setting personalized goals with each Member.

The GDA operates throughout the St. Louis region with an emphasis on the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County.

Learn more

The mission of the Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security is to better understand and address the causes and consequences of hunger and food insecurity. Through research, teaching and engagement, the Center seeks to build food secure communities in Missouri and beyond.

2019 Missouri Hunger Atlas  Food Pantry Research  Missouri EATS: Engage - Act-Transform

The Experimental Station is increasing the affordability and accessibility of nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables sold in Illinois. By funding Link Match programs at farmers markets, farm stands, food co-ops, independent grocery and corner stores for low-income Illinoisans, they are rebuilding the connection between local agricultural producers and families most in need. In addition to funding, Link Up Illinois also provides participating markets and food outlets with training and technical assistance for implementing these nutrition incentive programs successfully.

Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is the nation's oldest botanical garden in continuous operation and a National Historic Landmark.  The Garden is a center for botanical research and science education, as well as an oasis in the city of St. Louis. The Missouri Botanical Garden's sustainability mission is driven by the need to protect and conserve plants and their ecosystems. Significant resources are invested in developing and sharing new discoveries in plant science and plant conservation and using that knowledge to help manage those ecosystems here and around the world.

Much of the Garden's education and outreach is conducted through the EarthWays Center.  Environmental education is provided through classes and tours, K-12 and college programs, professional development, special events, and resources that promote sustainable human behaviors and choices related to the food we eat, the homes and buildings we construct and operate, the products we produce and consume and the transportation methods we employ.

As industrialized agriculture has proliferated across Missouri and the Midwest, MCE has worked to support farmers who have remained committed to using environmentally responsible practices despite pressure from industry and incentives from the government to farm using other practices. One of the best ways to support environmentally responsible practices is to educate consumers in the farmers’ local “foodsheds” about their practices and where to buy their products. MCE also works to help these farmers get their products into more institutions, grocery stores, and other markets. 

MCE Local Food Resources St. Louis Food Policy Coalition

The Waste Management Program works hard to help all Missourians better manage their solid wastes. Through the cooperative efforts of citizens, businesses, industry and government, Missouri can continue to increase material reuse and recycling from all solid waste sources. Reducing the amount of solid wastes generated remains the program's primary goal.

MDNR Composting  MO Waste Composition Study

The Missouri Recycling Association (MORA) provides value by connecting people, offering industry insights, and influencing policy to support our economy and business in extracting the highest and best use of materials at end of life. 

Learn more about food waste resources here.

OneSTL is a collaboration to encourage and support greater sustainability across the eight-county St. Louis region. A dynamic network of organizations and individuals sharing ideas, expertise, and resources to meet our regional sustainability goals.

Waste reduction and diversion are sustainable practices ensuring efficient materials use and reduction of the amount of space and money devoted to landfills.  The Materials and Recycling Working Group comprises of multiple communities and organizations working on waste reduction and recycling efforts, including food waste reduction.

Operation Food Search (OFS) is a hunger relief organization that provides free food, nutrition education and innovative programs proven to reduce food insecurity. With a strategic focus aimed at ending childhood hunger, OFS empowers families and increases access to healthy and affordable food. The agency provides food and services to 200,000 individuals on a monthly basis – one-third of whom are children – through a network of 330 community partners in 27 Missouri and Illinois counties and the city of St. Louis. 

The St. Louis Area Food Bank is working to create a stronger, healthier bi-state region where no one goes to bed hungry.  Their mission is to build stronger communities by empower people with food and hope.

Founded in 1992 by eco-enthusiast Patrick Geraty, St. Louis Composting is the region's largest compost producer. Together, their composting facilities process over 1,000,000 cubic yards of green material annually – more than one-third of all yard waste generated in St. Louis County. In addition to composting yard trimmings gathered by the area’s major waste haulers, they receive, and compost material collected from landscapers and homeowners. They transport and process over 500 tons of organic food waste each week, keeping our landfills free of this organic debris.  St. Louis Composting has 7 locations in the St. Louis metro area and other locations throughout Missouri, including Kansas City.

The St. Louis Green Business Challenge, a program of Missouri Botanical Garden, has delivered “Triple Bottom Line” results (fiscal, social and environmental) to businesses of all types and sizes across the St. Louis region. The Challenge provides a forum for businesses to incorporate sustainable practices that improve financial performance and engage their employees.

Participants identify and voluntarily adopt strategies that improve financial performance and reduce environmental impacts, while engaging employees toward both workplace and community benefits. 

Learn more about how your business can participate here.

Start Here St. Louis is a resource hub for a variety of needs, including food programs and pantries.  Find a list of services in your area.

Founded in 2014, Total Organics Recycling is locally owned and a leader in commercial organics recycling in the St. Louis metropolitan area. They haul and recycle over 300 tons of organic waste each week from local businesses, restaurants, schools, entertainment venues, and organizations. 

They serve as a full-service partner for organics recycling. We educate staff on what is compostable, pick-up organic waste, and then process it into nutrient-rich compost with our eco-partner St. Louis Composting. The entire process is hassle-free, keeping usable, beneficial food waste out of our landfills, and in the process, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions inherent to their conventional disposal. 

MU Extension in Saint Louis County is the outreach and engagement arm of the University of Missouri system providing research-based educational programs for youth and families, businesses and communities, and horticulture. MU Extension is known as a valued and trusted resource for Missourians; providing programming needs throughout the 90 municipalities of St. Louis County in addition to residents in St. Louis City.

Food Systems Show Me Food - Local Food Source Map

The 2018 Saint Louis Climate Summit brought together some of the most authoritative minds in climate science, ecology, sustainable development, and related disciplines for three days of discussion on climate change. The summit highlighted key issues, celebrated notable achievements, and elucidated a path forward. Many of the speakers and panels were hosted at facilities in Grand Center, near the campus of Saint Louis University. 

Watch the Summit