40% of U.S. food goes to waste: One man’s solution

Diane Beasley, CNN
Updated 10:05 AM EST, Thu December 31, 2015
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Story highlights

Robert Lee's nonprofit picks up fresh food that would otherwise go to waste and gets it to people in need

Watch "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" now on CNNgo

Nominations are open for 2016 CNN Heroes

(CNN) —  

Like many children, Robert Lee was taught never to waste food. But growing up the son of Korean immigrants who struggled to get by, he really took the idea to heart.

In college, Lee joined a student group that delivered leftover dining hall food to homeless shelters. That was when he learned the magnitude of the problem.

One in six Americans struggles with food insecurity. Yet in the United States, 40% of food goes to waste.

“Just the sheer amount of food that’s being wasted is enough to eradicate hunger,” Lee said.

After graduating two years ago, Lee decided to help take the concept of rescuing food off campus. Together with fellow NYU alum Louisa Chen, he co-founded Rescuing Leftover Cuisine. The nonprofit picks up fresh food that would otherwise go to waste from New York City restaurants and gets it to people in need.

Seven days a week, the organization engages volunteers to pick up and deliver any amount of food, no matter how small. Lee says operating on foot makes the group highly efficient.

CNN Heroes

So far, the group has rescued 100,000 pounds of food and delivered it to homeless shelters and food kitchens. Seeing the impact he was making, Lee gave up his finance job at J.P. Morgan last year to focus on his nonprofit full time.

The group is partnered with more than 50 food providers throughout New York City. But it’s just the beginning, Lee says. Rescuing Leftover Cuisine recently expanded to six other cities across the United States.

I talked with Lee about his efforts and what he’s learned. Below is an edited version of our conversation.

CNN: In a short amount of time, your group has already made a big difference. Why do you think it works so well?

Robert Lee: We don’t have a minimum pound requirement because every little bit of food counts. It can help feed someone.

It’s also so easy for people to come on and volunteer. The volunteers are crucial to the work that we do. They can sign up on a public calendar on our website. They choose their own commitment. If they want to do weekly, monthly, it’s all up to them. And each of our slots are only about 30 minutes long. So it’s very easy to fit in to your busy schedule, either along the way home from work or nearby your home.

We are working on an app for volunteers to sign up which will be launched this fall. We hope it will be like Uber for delivering leftover food to the homeless! We want to expand our operations so we can rescue millions of pounds of food, by bringing on more volunteers and more restaurant partners.

Volunteers learn about the issues of food waste and hunger firsthand. They see how much food is being wasted; they get to actually carry that food.

02:52 - Source: CNN
CNN Hero Robert Lee: Rescuing Leftover Cuisine

CNN: Has it been challenging to find restaurants to partner with?

Lee: It has been surprisingly difficult. When we first started out, we got about five partners for every 100 people that we reached out to.

A lot of the restaurants have never even heard of the concept of food rescue. And they thought they would be legally held liable for the food that they were donating. So I’d have to explain to them the legislation (that) basically covers and protects all food donors from legal liability, except in the case of gross negligence.

But after we had more partners, we were able to basically point across the street and be like, “Hey, we work with them. This is how it works. We make it very easy for you to do this.”

All of the 2015 CNN Heroes show how one person can truly make a difference. Cathy Heying helps the needy repair their vehicles at low cost so they can continue on the road to success. Heying has provided affordable car repairs to hundreds of low-income individuals, saving them a total of over $170,000. Click through the gallery to meet more 2015 CNN Heroes.
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Giving needy a lift —
All of the 2015 CNN Heroes show how one person can truly make a difference. Cathy Heying helps the needy repair their vehicles at low cost so they can continue on the road to success. Heying has provided affordable car repairs to hundreds of low-income individuals, saving them a total of over $170,000. Click through the gallery to meet more 2015 CNN Heroes.
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An estimated 40% of food in the U.S. goes to waste, while one in six Americans struggles with food insecurity. Robert Lee's nonprofit picks up fresh food that would otherwise go to waste and gets it to people in need.
Photos: 2015 CNN Heroes
PHOTO: Diane Beasley/CNN
Transforming waste into acts of heroism —
An estimated 40% of food in the U.S. goes to waste, while one in six Americans struggles with food insecurity. Robert Lee's nonprofit picks up fresh food that would otherwise go to waste and gets it to people in need.
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PHOTO: John Nowak/CNN
'Walking off' the war —
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Healing Chicago's 'mean streets' —
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Jersey babysitter-turned-hero —
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Helping the Lakota people —
Rochelle Ripley's nonprofit has delivered an estimated $9 million in services and goods to the Lakota people. She and volunteers run a food bank and provide free health services, home renovations and educational opportunities.
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Cardiologist Dr. David Sabgir's nonprofit spurs doctors and patients to meet for regular walks.
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Helping families with children —
Corinne Cannon founded the D.C. Diaper Bank when her son was only one years old. The nonprofit has provided nearly 2 million diapers to low-income families.