Don’t let food waste make a mess of Kansas City World Cup festivities | Opinion
This Earth Day, we are reminded that even everyday challenges such as food waste require practical solutions at the local level. In Kansas City, preparations are already underway to welcome an estimated 650,000 visitors from around the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This event will bring energy, excitement and increased demand across the city.
Food waste strains landfill capacity and increases disposal costs. This influx of visitors is sure to put a strain on our local waste disposers and food establishments.
Through its Feed It Onward initiative, the Environmental Protection Agency is highlighting KC Can Compost’s efforts to reduce food waste across World Cup stadiums, fan festivals, restaurants and city streets. We’re calling upon Kansas Citians across the metropolitan area to spread the word and join in these efforts to create a cleaner, healthier city. As the city’s slogan goes: Give a scrap KC.
Feed It Onward is the EPA’s contribution to Freedom 250, a celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Under the leadership of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the agency is focused on highlighting real-world solutions that deliver results for communities while helping reduce costs for American families. In Kansas City, that work is already underway through Feed It Onward partners KC Can Compost, Kanbe’s Markets and Pete’s Garden. Together, the EPA’s three Kansas City-based Feed It Onward partners have diverted millions of pounds of food waste from landfills. Their innovative models were showcased on the national stage last fall, when Zeldin visited the Kansas City warehouse that Kanbe’s Markets shares with KC Can Compost and others.
KC Can Compost is working with four local municipalities to plan for food waste diversion at their World Cup fan fests, creating infrastructure that makes composting food waste as easy as choosing the right disposal can. You also may have seen the group’s orange composting containers popping up around town, including in Prairie Village. The vibrant color is a reminder that “orange equals organics” — food waste and compostable food containers go into the orange cans, not landfill-bound bins.
Keep an eye out for those orange cans as you cheer on your favorite team this summer, and take a moment to send your food waste to compost. It’s a simple step that can make a real impact, and people of all ages can get involved. We encourage you to reach out to your municipality to learn more about their food waste diversion plans and volunteer needs ahead of World Cup celebrations.
Restaurants across the city are expected to see a significant increase in customers during the World Cup, meaning not only more food prep and waste, but also an increased need for food waste diversion partners such as Kanbe’s Markets and Pete’s Garden. These groups will help meet the need for higher food demands by rescuing good food and utilizing novel distribution avenues to get it into the hands of our community members and visitors. The more food that is rescued, the more mouths that are fed. In fact, Pete’s Garden anticipates that they will recover enough surplus food from World Cup festivities to provide an additional 10,000 take-home meals to Kansas City families during June and July.
When the spotlight is on Kansas City this summer, the city has an opportunity to show how practical solutions, strong partnerships, and local leadership can reduce waste and strengthen communities.
Jim Macy is the administrator for EPA Region 7, which consists of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and nine Tribal nations.