HOUSTON FOOD BANK PARTNERS WITH ZERO WASTE HOUSTON TO CONTINUE SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS – APRIL 20, 2026
February efforts alone created 13,533.30 lbs. of compost
HOUSTON … When Houston Food Bank moved into its current headquarters at 535 Portwall in 2011, they not only quadrupled their office, warehouse and volunteer spaces to better serve the community, they followed sustainable practices for the facility’s massive renovation to create an innovative model for other food banks in terms of not just efficiency and pioneering programs but also environmental responsibility.
In keeping with the organization’s mission of providing food for better lives, Houston Food Bank has continued to add sustainable efforts over the years, the most recent being a new partnership with Zero Waste Houston, a local, family-run business with a core value of achieving zero waste, where at least 90% of materials generated are diverted from going into the landfills or incinerators.
Not only does this partnership between Houston Food Bank and Zero Waste Houston ensure that valuable food resources reach their highest use potential, it also sets the tone for Houstonians – businesses and residents alike – on the most responsible ways to handle food waste for the good of the community and environment. Working together is an exemplary way for these organizations to demonstrate how food should be handled, both to prevent it going to the landfill and before it goes into the compost pile, working towards building a sustainable, zero-waste society.
“Houston Food Bank plays an important role in the goal towards zero waste by feeding people first and preventing valuable resources from being discarded by growers and food producers,” says Zero Waste Houston Founder & President Leo Brito. “Zero Waste Houston is excited and grateful to handle the next step in ensuring that any food that cannot help feed people will be turned into nutrient-rich compost that feeds and revitalizes our soil, including the soil surrounding the Houston Food Bank facility. With our similar values, this strategic partnership organically works toward strengthening community, supporting environmental justice and building a circular economy.”
Zero Waste Houston has placed containers at the food bank’s Portwall facility and Knobcrest warehouse which will collect discarded food items – both produce and nonperishables – with a goal of composting 90% of discards. Each container’s capacity is 21 cubic yards, which equates to approximately 16,800–21,000 pounds, depending on the produce mix. The containers will be collected at least twice per week and taken to be composted offsite, helping to reduce emissions and landfill waste, and then used to enrich soil in various places including some returning back to the food bank’s front garden area where new Texas natives will be planted.
Zero Waste Houston is providing data monthly as to how many cubic feet of beneficial composting has been generated by the partnership.
During February 2026, Houston Food Bank diverted a total of 41,010 lbs. of food waste and compostables. (30,074.00 lbs. from the Portwall facility and 10,936.00 lbs. from the Knobcrest facility.)
Between the two locations, by composting food waste, Houston Food Bank has:
- Created 13,533.30 lbs. of compost
- Prevented 106, 626 lbs. of carbon dioxide (CO2) from entering our atmosphere!
By creating this compost, it sequestered carbon back into nature with the equivalent of 242.33 trees absorbing CO2 for 20 years.
Preventing the CO2 from being released is the equivalent of avoiding:
- 5,442.19 gallons of gasoline being consumed
- An average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle driving 124,081.83 miles
- 11.37 vehicles driving for one year – gasoline-powered passenger.
- Delivering electricity to 10.08 homes for an entire year
- 2,221 propane cylinders being used for home barbecues
- 3,993,342.22 smartphones being charged
“Houston Food Bank and Zero Waste Houston are both focused on eliminating as much waste as possible in the food system – one by procuring and distributing to the community large-scale donations from manufacturers, warehouses and farmers such as surplus produce and still-nutritious items near expiration, and the other by making sure that as little as possible goes to landfills which can negatively impact the environment,” says Brian Greene, president/CEO of Houston Food Bank. “Both our organizations work to eliminate ‘waste’ and strive to ensure that food is handled responsibly as a precious resource and not simply tossed out with the trash.”
Houston Food Bank’s Portwall facility is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient in design, construction process, as well as the building operation and maintenance. The space was designed to improve energy and water conservation, to protect the occupants’ health and comfort, and improve the employees’ productivity. Notable factors are: roofing with a high solar reflectance value (transfers less heat to the building below and reduces the mechanical load) and solar panels, all keeping energy costs at 40% less than projected; occupancy sensors in occupied office areas; new skylights have been installed in the warehouse and enclosed offices providing access to daylight and reducing the need for artificial lighting; resource reuse – salvaged building materials were reused and converted into furniture (steel beams made into benches for landscaped areas, racks from warehouse transformed into seating areas in the building, storage pallets will decorate feature walls); earth-friendly chairs in the Community Room (made by Daylight, the poly frame for the seat and back are made of 100% recycled plastic from car batteries); automatic sensor faucets in all bathrooms; all water fountains feature a spout for filling reuseable water bottles; and low VOC paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants and carpet systems throughout the building; to name a few.
For more information on Houston Food Bank and its programs, visit HoustonFoodBank.org.
About Zero Waste Houston
Zero Waste Houston, LLC is a family-owned, small, sustainability business that operates out of The Woodlands, Texas. They cultivate sustainable communities through compost, offering residential and commercial food waste pick-up, community food waste drop-off sites, zero waste advisory services, and composting/recycling stations for events. They also operate a Texas native plant nursery and offer native landscaping services. www.zerowastehoustontx.com
About Houston Food Bank
Serving Houston and southeast Texas since 1982, Houston Food Bank’s mission is to provide food for better lives. We provide access to 143 million nutritious meals in 18 counties through our 1,600 community partners of food pantries, soup kitchens, social service providers and schools. Filling gaps on plates, we have a strong focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. In collaboration with our community, we advocate for policy change and racial equity, and promote dialogue on ways to increase access to food and to improve the lives of those in our communities, including services and connections to programs that address the root causes of hunger and are aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability: nutrition education, health management and help with securing state-funded assistance. We are a resource for individuals and families in times of hardship. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston County and Brazos Valley. Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for the 14th consecutive year.
Website houstonfoodbank.org; Social media: @houstonfoodbank (Instagram and X), @thehoustonfoodbank (Facebook)