A Sustainable Spoil
by Amanda Wills
Published on August 17th, 2009
13 Comments
So, you’re perusing through the meat aisle at your local grocer, and chances are you see a great deal of food that has a bright yellow clearance sticker – it must go by today.
But what happens to all that leftover meat? Most grocers send it to rendering companies, but even then, some of the cut meat gets landfilled, translating into thousands upon thousands of pounds of wasted food.
Some U.S. zoos purchase meat for its carnivores by the truckload. That's tens of thousands of pounds every month. Photo: Amanda Wills, Earth911.com
Let’s switch gears to another side of the story. While this meat is often wasted, animal caretakers and zoos across the country are spending tens of thousands of dollars on raw meat for their lions and tigers and bears (oh my!). See a connection yet?
Quest Recycling, a full service recycling company, also saw the connection, and it led to the launch of their sister company called Sustainable Selections. This new venture created a liaison between retailers and zoos to handle this wasted meat. While the expired meat is not suitable for human consumption, it is still safe for animals. Grocers get rid of their “waste” while zoos and rescues save thousands.
The program is simple: Organizations (such as zoos and animal caretakers) pay a low monthly membership fee. Sustainable Selections matches the member with a local retailer based on the amount of meat needed on a weekly basis.
Any type of organization is welcome to participate as long as it can consume at least 250 pounds of meat each week or can partner up with other groups to meet the required amount. Sustainable Selections reaches out to a variety of animal caretakers, including:
- Zoos
- Animal shelters
- Individuals or groups of pet owners
- Exotic pet owners
While the program is still in its pilot stages, we caught up with Quest’s Marketing Director, Jason Smith and Project Manager, Robin Sweere, to find out more about Sustainable Selections.
Earth911.com: We know Quest works with several major retailers and knows first-hand how quickly leftover meat can pile up, but how did the idea for Sustainable Selections come about?
Jason Smith: It came from the idea that some of our retail clients are moving to a zero-waste policy, and we were trying to find a better alternative [to meat rendering]. We had some test pilots with exotic farms around the country, and as we looked, there were a lot of zoos that were facing closures due to animal feed fees. We thought if we created a membership club, then everybody wins. The biggest issue is the amount of processed meat because zoos don’t want this, but you have to take everything.
Robin Sweere: One of the number one reasons for turning over animals to facilities is due to the cost of feeding. Also, there is a new trend of feeding raw meat to animals, even your house pets.
Earth911: Tell us more about the new trend in feeding raw meat to household pets.
Sweere: Well, exotic pet ownership is becoming a trend as well. You would be amazed at how many people have two or three pet tigers and are also feeding raw meat to their other animals, such as dogs and cats. But that’s not generally our target, as most people can’t process 250 pounds of meat [a week]. However, a couple of pet owners can go in together, you just have to have one person responsible for pick up, contracts, etc.
Smith: Feeding raw has its best of intentions, but most people can only afford chicken, but if you go in with other pet owners, you can have a choice: pork, beef, chicken and fish. It has a lot of nutrients and can be healthy for pets.
Earth911: Can you explain how this program works once you’re a member? Are you seeing a trend in the amount of meat animal caretakers and zoos are using?
Sweere: Each store has an average of 200 to 250 pounds of meat each week in leftovers, so we look at the individual member and his or her needs. We match them with the store that’s closest and has the volume of leftover meat that the member is looking for. The volume varies by size of the zoo and the amount of carnivores and herbivores. One barrel is 250 pounds of meat, so some zoos need as much as 44 barrels to feed their animals. But we are always up-front with the members about the potential risks with the program.
Earth911.com: Risks?
Smith: Too much meat is the primary risk.
Sweere: We’re very frank. If the freezer goes out at the store, members will still need to pick up everything. Although it’s not an everyday case, we have to have an outlet to get rid of it. You have to be able to lift a 200-pound barrel and have proper transportation for it, so it takes planning. But those who are spending thousands a month for feed are happy to do it. However, they have to be able to legally dispose of meat.
Earth911: So all members have to do is pay the low membership fee that covers administration fees, insurance and paperwork, and they can take all the meat they need? That seems like a pretty sweet deal.
Smith: Some of these zoos were bringing in meat by the truckload from bigger corporations. One of our pilot programs used to spend about $30,000 a month on feed! So, it’s definitely a good deal for both parties.
Earth911: All seven test pilots have been successful, and the program will be up and running on Nov. 1. Will there ever be a chance for consumers to get involved with Sustainable Selections? Could this possibly be something households could participate in?
Smith: I would love to say ‘yes,’ but there would be a lot of risks. Even in the retail store, the cold chain is well managed with meat freezers and coolers, and once it’s ready to be pulled, it will be put back into the cooler. As consumers, we don’t take those types of measures into consideration.
Earth911: The program sounds like a fantastic idea, and we can’t wait to see the impact it has. What’s in the future for Quest Recycling and this specific program?
Sweere: Quest started a new company called Landfill Diversion Innovations, a partner company that was formed in the spirit of a co-op, and we’re hoping to eventually incorporate produce, pet food, among other things. We’re trying to keep food out of landfills. We say people first, animals second, then reuse and recycle. As this program is proven successful, we can expect to roll out other initiatives in the future.
Carol Murphy
posted on August 17th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I applaud this effort by Robin and Jason, Quest Recycling and Sustainable Solutions! As a raw feeder for nearly a decade now, I have often wished something like this were available! Thank goodness someone is finally recognizing that most meat past the sell by date is still fine for the carnivores. Our rescue personnel feeds 40 dogs plus between our own personal dogs and those boarded or fostered in the rescue program. Each German Shepherd eats between 1.5 and 2.5 bs of meat daily so it really adds up! Bless you for this!
Christina Hunter
posted on August 19th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Just posted this story to Facebook, hope it reaches more readers this way!!! Awesome story!!! I wonder if there is anyone in Indianapolis that does this??? maybe FB will circulate to enugh people, that it may get someones attention!! GREAT article..
Scott Cox
posted on August 19th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Although I definitely applaud the effort to make sure no meat goes to the landfills and to feed any and all needy animals, it’s very disturbing to hear about exotic pet ownership “becoming a trend.”
Hello, but has everyone already forgot about the family chimpanzee that ripped that woman’s face off?!!
And tigers, don’t get me started…there are MORE TIGERS IN CAPTIVITY IN THE U.S. than anywhere on this planet. There should be no personal ‘ownership’ of exotic animals whatsoever. And I say ‘ownership’ because the majority of these people treat them as property, not companion animals – which is not possible with the majority of wild, exotic animals who deserve to live in their native habitats only!
This country is facing some serious economic hardships, and the increased rates of euthanasia of dogs and cats in our nation’s shelters is an unnecessary consequence of these hardships. Which by the way are funded by our taxpayer dollars, and I know here in California it’s to the tune of $250 million to kill some 500,000 of them every year…
so right on for trendy exotic pet ownership!
Andrea
posted on August 19th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
YEs Yes YEs! I love reading articles like this! Good work Amanda! I can’t wait to read more! This is fantastic. A perfect way to help the animals!
Risa
posted on August 20th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
How wonderful! We waste so much food in this country, it’s nice to see someone take food that would otherwise go to waste and use it to feed animals. Great idea! I hope it takes off!
Richard Leavitt
posted on December 2nd, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Amanda,
How can I find out more about your Raw Meat operation. There are quite a few local Animal Shelters and Raw Feeders in my area (Las Vegas NV) that could use the help.
joe williams
posted on December 4th, 2009 at 10:25 am
One of the best things to happen for mutiple animal owners. It works. Just make sure to properly and legally dispose of any waste.If this program catches on it will benefit many people.
Jackie
posted on December 21st, 2009 at 11:15 am
This is concerning to me in that too many people don’t recognize or have the resources to prevent diseases such as salmonella, e-coli, etc. that even animals can contract. Not to mention too many folks who might see this as a ‘cheap’ alternative to a healthy balanced diet and incorrectly feed a “raw” diet.
Orlando Ero
posted on January 12th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
WOW… what I have been dreaming off…. How & where do I go to start or join???
M.S.
posted on January 21st, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Dont be so quick too praise this program or the people who run it. There is alot going on that you dont know. This program was built on a bunch of lies and people were tricked into it for the most part. Also this meat is still going too the landfills because its not all useable 3/4 of what you get is no good unless your feeding dogs and domestic cats. Also the employees throw alot of trash into the meat that is very dangerous too tigers and lions and could cost the cat its life. The folks that run this program are making a killing off of it and its not free too the zoos or sanctuaries. Go behind the scenes and see whats really going on. Big buisness never gave anything too the little guy for free. If you believe this crap story on here you will believe anything.
MB Anderson
posted on January 31st, 2010 at 1:51 pm
To MS. We do not know what the creators of this effort are doing because you haven’t told us. Provide facts along with your condemnation. Can you do that?
M.S.
posted on February 1st, 2010 at 3:32 pm
I sure can give you facts. I already gave you one in my first reply. This meat is still going too the landfill because most of what you get is not what large cats eat. Do you know of any tigers that like lunch meat and pepperoni and stuffing and a bunch of other spiced meats. Also have proof of waste being mixed in such as plastics and wood and strings. What else would you like too know. I was on this program. Dont think for one minute this program is the best thing since sliced bread. When I signed on for this program they never told you that you would be a garbage person for them. They do an audit of each store to see how much they throw away each week, they forget too tell you that 75% of whats in your barrels will need too be thrown out because lions and tigers wont eat it. When they told me that my stores throw out 300lbs of meat a week thats what we expect too get not 25lbs of good and 125lbs of junk. Now you say well its free, no its not. It cost me to throw away meat for them plus my time and time in seperating the bad from good. They told me too pick up more store so I could get more good meat and at the sametime you will still have too haul more too the landfill, makes no since too me too pay Quest for me too haul garbage from Walmart too the landfill. NOW do you need anymore facts MB Anderson? Are you in the program? Do you know what tigers and lions eat? I knew form the start of this program that it was going too be a pain since its foundation was built on lies. This program is not really thinking about the animals at all.
SH
posted on February 19th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Yikes, M.S., you seem very angry. Sounds like this program and/or the store(s) that you are/were getting your meat from is definitely not working for you. I can see why your experience would be frustrating but you shouldn’t condemn the whole program or imply there’s some sort of conspiracy just because you’re unhappy. You know, not everyone who might participate in this program is feeding large cats.
And, no, I don’t work for these people, or at a grocery store or am in any way affiliate with the program. I’m just a new raw feeder who is reasearching options and came across this story.
I just last night spoke to a woman who is participating in the program. She picks up her meat twice a week from her local participating store. She didn’t once mention anything about picking through trash, taking stuff to a landfill or being their “garbage person”. She seemed very happy with the program.
Your near-to-last sentence said it all “I knew form the start of this program that it was going too be a pain since its foundation was built on lies.” Kind of a sel-fulfilling prophecy you made for youself, huh?