Metro Vancouver seeks consultant to build regional Food Recovery Network

Metro Vancouver has issued a request for bids for a consulting firm to help develop a regional Food Recovery Network, the regional district's stated goal being to divert surplus food to its highest-value use, create secondary markets and cut avoidable food waste.

The network is part of Metro's updated Solid Waste Management Plan and is to be supported by a technology platform. It would also collaborate with, and gather information from, other food recovery initiatives across Metro Vancouver, existing or under development. The current program is named the Vancouver Food Recovery Network.

Metro describes wasted food as an urgent but solvable global challenge. It cites the National Zero Waste Council, which says more than half of all food produced and distributed in Canada never gets eaten, with environmental, economic and social consequences. A 2024 waste composition study found that compostable organics, including edible food, make up 22 per cent of garbage.

The request for proposals does not give a bid deadline, a contract value or an award date. Metro officials have not commented beyond the published document.