Whole Foods to Implement Smart Waste Bins from Mill | 2027

Mill and Amazon Partner to Tackle Food Waste at Whole Foods

Mill, a startup focused on reducing food waste, announced a collaboration with Amazon on Tuesday.

The agreement will see Mill’s specialized bins implemented in the produce sections of Whole Foods stores nationwide, beginning in 2027.

Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund is also contributing financially to Mill’s development, although the specific investment amount remains undisclosed.

Funding and the Scale of the Problem

To date, Mill has secured a total of $250 million in funding, as reported by Axios.

Food waste represents a significant challenge within the grocery industry. Approximately 10% of all food—equivalent to 43 billion pounds, based on a 2014 study—is discarded annually by U.S. grocery stores.

Given the typically narrow profit margins in this sector, each pound of wasted food represents a lost revenue opportunity and contributes to increased carbon emissions.

How Mill’s Technology Works

Mill’s system utilizes bins equipped with sensors to collect data.

This data is intended to assist Whole Foods in minimizing the quantity of produce it disposes of.

The collected food waste undergoes a process of dehydration and grinding within the bins.

Subsequently, the processed waste is converted into chicken feed.

This feed will then be supplied to Whole Foods’ egg producers who operate under the private label brand.