Flipping the Script on Food Waste: From Trash to Treasure with Oscar Rodriguez

Episode Summary:
In this transformative episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon speaks with Oscar Rodriguez, a pioneer in food waste diversion and sustainability solutions. Oscar shares his 15-year journey from commodity trading to launching innovative programs that turn food waste into animal feed and compost, reshaping Arizona’s waste management systems. The conversation explores how small and large-scale efforts can create environmental and economic impact—from home composting to major city-wide initiatives. Oscar also details his work with the Arizona Composting Council and the importance of education, clean separation, and logistics in creating a sustainable future. This episode highlights practical strategies to reduce food waste and how anyone—from homeowners to corporations—can be part of the solution.

Why Listen?
If you eat food, you need to hear this. At Harvesting Wisdom, we believe that “We have all taken a bite out of the apple.” This episode offers a powerful blueprint for how to take action—whether at home or in your business. Learn how Oscar’s scalable, sustainable model diverts food waste from landfills to farms and gardens, creating value and building resilient systems. This is your chance to turn awareness into action and leave a lasting social footprint.

Important Timelines:

• 01:17 – Oscar’s entry into food waste diversion from commodity trading
• 04:24 – Pioneering food waste programs in Arizona
• 05:50 – The shocking statistic: 40% of food is wasted in the U.S.
• 06:28 – Competing with landfills and building a profitable model
• 07:22 – What goes into animal feed and how it’s used
• 09:29 – How moisture content determines compost vs. feed
• 11:02 – What homeowners can and can’t compost
• 13:26 – Technical process of feed vs. compost production
• 14:59 – EPA’s food waste hierarchy and best practices
• 16:28 – How anyone—from homes to factories—can participate
• 17:26 – Arizona’s ranking and the need for improved policy
• 21:32 – Launching Phoenix’s food waste deep-packaging program
• 22:55 – Founding of the Arizona Composting Council
• 25:10 – Engaging communities through education and events
• 26:34 – Vision for community food waste bins and future policy
• 27:38 – Consulting and shaping new sustainable programs

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