FOOD RECOVERY APP

Join the food recovery team

We Don’t Waste recently launched a new program using a food donation app, to help expand our mission in the Denver metro area. With this new app, our amazing volunteers are now able to rescue small food donations on our behalf, and deliver them straight to our nonprofit recipient agencies!

As stewards of our environment, we can’t justify sending our fleet of box trucks to rescue small-scale donations. However, we do know that small businesses have to throw away a significant amount of food every day. This is where you can help. Email us at volunteer@wedontwaste.org to get sign up as a food recovery volunteer!

Volunteer
Donate Food

I think it’s a brilliant way to get more people involved in food recovery around the city.
— Rachel, Volunteer

local businesses Donate food

Businesses and institutions can post listings of excess edible food for pickup and dropoff.

volunteers recover food

Volunteers use the app to sign up for or “claim” donations that they would like to pick up.

Volunteers drop off the donation

Volunteers drive the food to We Don’t Waste’s Distribution Center, or directly to a nonprofit in need of food.

Food donors:

You can help in our efforts to reduce food waste! 40% of all food produced in the United States ends up in a landfill, but it doesn’t have to! By recovering excess foods, we are able to protect our environment from harmful greenhouse gases, and we help fight food insecurity by providing this food directly to those in need.

  • App use is free!
  • Our pickup services are free!
  • Save money on waste management!
  • Tax benefits! – When filing, you are able to deduct full market value for items you have donated!
  • Free Marketing – Your company could be included in our marketing materials
Become a Food Donor

What we accept:

  • Safe, consumable, unused foods!
  • Refrigerated items – Fruit, Vegetables, Meat, Dairy
  • Shelf-stable products – Canned Goods, Snacks, Baked Goods
  • Frozen Foods 
  • Beverages
  • Prepared foods
  • Short-dated or past date items (dependent on the item)
  • Bulk items (dependent on the item)

What we don’t accept:

  • We do not accept any hot foods – all foods must be cooled to food safety guidelines
  • We do not accept buffet-style foods that have been open to the public
  • We do not accept any foods that have been sitting out for over 4 hours
  • We do not accept garbage or foods to be composted. Our donations are for human consumption!

Does We Don’t Waste pick up donations in the evenings, after an event, or after closing?

We accept donations Monday-Friday, 8:00AM – 4:00PM.

Can We Don’t Waste provide containers?

We do not have containers for donation. Businesses should provide the food in ready-to-go containers. 

Are we liable for anything?

No. You are federally protected under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996– You are protected should your food, donated in good faith, cause harm to a recipient.

Is there any paperwork involved?

No! Our onboarding process is quick and easy. 

Does We Don’t Waste provide a receipt?

We will provide an in-kind donation form on your initial pickup. This form includes our Tax ID number as well as donation specifics and monetary value for the items donated.