Rethinking Food Waste Prevention with ReWorks

by Marcie E. Kress, Executive Director, ReWorks

ReWorks mission is to provide solutions and leadership to empower our community, institutions, and businesses to develop and utilize environmentally sound, cost-effective recycling and materials management strategies. One impactful step we can all take to responsibly manage materials and be cost-effective is reducing the amount of food waste we generate. Utilizing all the food we purchase helps the environment and saves money by preventing unused resources. Below are a few simple steps to follow to decrease the likelihood of throwing away your food (and money.)

Buy only what you need.

Check your refrigerator, pantry and cupboards before heading to the store. You can prevent overbuying by checking to see what you already have before making your list.

Plan around what you have.

Plan meals that utilize the ingredients you already have. Prioritize using any items you have that may be closer to expiring to reduce the risk of losing them to spoilage. Organizing your fridge in a way that keeps items that may spoil soon in view can be helpful.

Know and follow the best practices for storing and preserving your food.

Be sure you store your food in the best environment for keeping it fresh. If you have items you are worried may go bad before you can use them, consider freezing, pickling or canning as a way of preserving them until you are able to use them.

Have a plan for excess.

Surplus food happens and you may not have room to store it or time to use it. Reaching out to family, friends, food banks and shelters to share can help prevent waste. If sharing isn’t an option composting may be. Composting helps prevent the loss of nutrients from food waste and generates compost that can be used in your yard or garden. Check out our backyard compost guide here: summitreworks.com/compost.

Sept. 28–Oct. 4 is Food Waste Prevention Week, a week where entities around the world work together to educate and inspire action to prevent food waste. For more resources on food waste reduction, visit summitreworks.com, Instagram @summitreworks or call 330-374-0383. Remember, even if you are just beginning, the smallest food waste prevention actions add up quickly too.

ReWorks, the solid waste management authority for Summit County, provides programs, services, and community outreach on waste reduction, recycling, and other materials management strategies.

-Sponsored By-

ReWorks

Marcie E. Kress, Executive Director, ReWorks

2711 West Market St. Unit 13620, Fairlawn, OH 44333
www.summitreworks.com • 330-374-0383

Opinions and claims expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ScripType Publishing.

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