Waste Not Arizona

At Waste Not, we believe that good food should never go to waste while people go hungry. For more than 35 years, we've been on a mission to eliminate food waste and hunger in Arizona by rescuing fresh, nutritious food and delivering it directly to organizations that serve people in need.

​Every day, perfectly good food is discarded by businesses, events, and restaurants—not because it's inedible, but because it’s surplus. Instead of letting this food end up in landfills, we intercept it and redistribute it to community organizations that provide meals to people facing hunger. Our innovative food rescue model ensures that thousands of pounds of food reach shelters, senior centers, schools, and nonprofits across the Valley the same day it’s rescued.

​How We Work

• We rescue surplus perishable food from grocery stores, caterers, event venues, and businesses.
• Our fleet of refrigerated vehicles transports food safely and efficiently, ensuring quality and freshness.
• We distribute food at no cost to more than 85 nonprofit partners serving individuals and families in need.
• By keeping food out of landfills, we also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making a positive impact on the environment.​

​Beyond our daily food rescue efforts, we play a key role in recovering surplus food from large-scale events held in the Valley. From major sporting events to community gatherings, we work behind the scenes to ensure that excess food is redirected to feed people, not landfills. Our team has helped rescue thousands of pounds of food from high-profile events like the WM Phoenix Open, the Final Four, and the Super Bowl, ensuring that every opportunity to reduce food waste and nourish our community is maximized.

​Why It Matters

In Arizona, 1 in 10 people are food insecure, yet nearly 40% of all food goes to waste. Waste Not bridges this gap, turning excess into impact by providing millions of meals each year while promoting sustainability.