Dear Beyond Recycling Readers,
On June 12th, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics. This strategy outlines ambitious goals for the U.S. government, retailers, and consumers to work together to prevent food loss and waste, increase organics recycling, promote circular economies, save money, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The strategy highlights four key objectives:
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Preventing food loss.
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Preventing food waste.
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Increasing the recycling rate for all organic waste.
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Supporting policies that encourage these practices.
The ultimate goal is to reduce the nation’s food loss and waste by 50% by 2030.
New research from the EPA shows that 58% of methane emissions from landfills are due to food waste. This statistic is crucial because methane is 28 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere and has contributed to 30% of the increase in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. By significantly reducing food loss and waste, we can make a rapid and impactful reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Data from the USDA shows one-third of all available food in the U.S. goes uneaten, costing the average family of four between $1,500 and $2,000 a year. This waste represents not only a loss of valuable resources, time, and energy but also a significant financial burden. In Baltimore, organizations like Food Rescue Baltimore and 4MyCity are doing incredible work to reduce food waste and strengthen our communities. Check them out to find a free market near you.
Want to do your part in recycling food waste? Baltimore City residents can bring their food scraps to any of our five Residential Drop-Off locations, two farmers markets, or five university locations. Find all the details here on our website.
The Office of Waste Diversion
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Spring Conferences
ReFed
This year, ReFed, a national food waste reduction organization, hosted their 2024 Food Waste Solutions Summit in Baltimore, drawing stakeholders from around the world together to discuss and collaborate on combating food waste. The summit featured a range of innovators through breakout sessions, field trips, and networking events. One notable field trip took place at the Convention Center, where the Office of Waste Diversion team members had the opportunity to learn about their impressive efforts to reduce and divert food waste. In 2023, the convention center distributed over 100,000 lbs. of edible food that would have otherwise been wasted. They work with local farms to donate their food scraps as animal feed, source local ingredients whenever possible, and even maintain on-site bees with the help of Alveole, an urban bee keeping company.
The breakout sessions covered diverse topics including AI’s role in tackling food waste, reducing food waste in schools, key components and partnerships for successful food recovery programs, consumer food waste solutions, and the cultural footprint of our eating habits. Key figures from the Baltimore food waste scene took the stage on Thursday morning, including our very own Zero Waste Manager Sophia Hosain, Sustainability Director Ava Richardson, Shannon McDonald from MD Department of the Environment, and Matt Burke, Director of Food Rescue Baltimore. The conversation around the city’s food scrap drop-off locations, the city’s future composting facility, the Less Waste Better Baltimore Plan, and where you can find daily free food markets highlighted why Baltimore was the perfect choice for this year’s summit.
Maryland Recycling Network
The 2024 MRN/SWANA Mid-Atlantic Annual Conference took place at Turf Valley Resort in June. The event kicked off with an insightful session on batteries in the waste stream, emphasizing the dangers they pose, effective strategies to prevent their disposal in waste streams, and methods for managing the consequences when they do end up there. Other sessions covered a range of topics including: behavior change programs, legislative and regulatory updates, recycling of hazardous and hard-to-recycle materials, PFAS treatment technologies, and EPA grants in action. Each session offered valuable insights into how companies and municipalities across the Mid-Atlantic region are addressing various recycling challenges.
Second-Hand Wardrobe Day
Get ready for Second-Hand Wardrobe Day on August 25! This is your chance to join a movement dedicated to reducing waste and celebrating the unique charm of second-hand fashion. Not only does shopping second-hand save you money and cut back on waste, but it also gives you access to amazing vintage finds and the thrill of discovering unexpected treasures.
Prepare for the big day by doing a closet cleanout: donate what you no longer wear and make room for your "new to you" items. Second-Hand Wardrobe Day can look different for everyone. Maybe you’ll hit up your favorite thrift stores, attend the Library's Back-to-School clothing Swap (info below), or perhaps you'll put together a fabulous head-to-toe second-hand outfit to wear. However, you choose to celebrate, make sure to share your experience and let others know why you’re participating. Join us in making Second-Hand Wardrobe Day a stylish and sustainable celebration!
Shopping at farmers markets is a fantastic way to support the local economy, cut down on single-use plastics, and savor the seasonal bounty. Enhance your impact by contributing to a circular economy: bring your food scraps to drop-off points at Govanstowne, 32nd St./Waverly, or the Baltimore Farmers Market and Bazaar. For a complete list of farmers markets across Maryland, including their operating days and times, click here.
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Clamshell packaging, used for items like berries, salad greens, and other foods, is not accepted in curbside recycling. This is because it often includes a mix of plastics and its thin, flexible material can easily get caught in recycling machinery. |
Do you have an upcoming sustainable event that you'd like to showcase? Share the details with us at recycling@baltimorecity.gov, and we'll feature it in our newsletter!
Events
Artscape: Friday – Sunday, August 2nd – 4th, find out all the details here.
Jobs
Job Opportunities with the Department of Public Works
Job Opportunities with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks
Job Opportunities with the State of Maryland
Household Hazardous Waste Collection will continue on the first Friday and Saturday of the month, through October at the Sisson Street Residential Drop-off Center.
For Trash Collection Inquiries: 410.396.3367 or 410.396.9950
For Graffiti Removal or Rat Abatement: 410.396.1023
For Household Hazardous Waste: 410.396.7250
For Recycling Collection: 410.396.5671
For Street Sweeping: 410.396.1300
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