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Welcome
Since the launch of Save More Than Food, thousands of residents have engaged with the campaign and begun to save more than food. To each of you, SWACO and the Central Ohio Food Initiative offer our gratitude for your passion and commitment to reducing waste in Central Ohio. Together, we will continue to make a difference for our environment, our economy and community.
Throughout this newsletter you’ll learn about the food waste issue facing our community, find additional tools available to you and see the amazing things our partners are doing to prevent, rescue and recycle food waste.
Save More Than Food aims to provide the resources and tools that Central Ohio residents, schools, workplaces and food businesses need to reduce their food waste. By working together to implement the Central Ohio Food Waste Action Plan we can make a difference and meet our goal to cut food waste in half by 2030.
Join these efforts.
Sign up for future editions of the newsletter at SaveMoreThanFood.org and start saving more than food today!
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Wasted Food = Wasted Resources
Every day, over a million pounds of food waste enters the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill from homes and businesses. When food is simply thrown away instead of eaten, all of the resources that went into producing it are lost.
In a year, those wasted resources equate to each person discarding:
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Bringing Food Waste Innovation to Central Ohio
When we work together to prevent, rescue and recycle food waste in Central Ohio, we create opportunities to protect our environment, our economy and our community. In October, SWACO joined forces with Rev1 Ventures to support startups and innovators. Our efforts will focus on connecting the nearly 400 municipalities, food manufacturers, commercial retailers & kitchens in the Central Ohio region with entrepreneurs focused on food waste prevention, rescue, and recycling. While the food waste initiative is the focus for the first phase of the partnership, the goal is to evolve into a broader approach that supports startups innovating across the entire waste and recycling industry.
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The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that during the holidays, household food waste increases by 25%. Being mindful about purchasing the right amount of food, eating up leftovers, and repurposing leftovers into new recipes can go a long way. Let us help you get ready.
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Plan Your Meal:
Use the Meal Prep Mate to create a plan for your meals that won’t leave excess.
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Holiday Recipes:
These ‘use-it-up’ recipes will help you turn tired leftovers into delicious new meals.
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Share Ideas:
Post a picture of your use-it-up recipes on social and use #SaveMoreThanFood.
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Green Holiday Guide Available
Download the Green Holiday Guide to further prevent food waste, and improve food rescue and recycling from now and in to the new year.
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Food Waste Diversion Efforts Help to Feed Central Ohio Community Members
Unexpected changes in employment can have a major impact on a family’s ability to pay bills and buy food. For families who struggle to put food on the table, the support of hunger-relief organizations in Central Ohio is critical to keeping their families fed.
As part of the Central Ohio Food Waste Initiatives collective efforts to reduce waste, partners from public health departments, regional food banks, food rescue organizations, grocery retailers, and restaurant industry representatives have gathered to collaborate to help excess food become meals for our community.
This work includes creating resources and promoting ways for restaurants and other food businesses to safely donate excess food.
The Franklin County and Columbus Public Health Departments, along with SWACO, worked together to publish and distribute Food Donation Guidelines for Licensed Food Facilities.
SWACO also provided Columbus Public Health with a grant to create posters and informational flyers for use in food businesses to assist with the donation process.
With the majority of waste coming to the landfill from area businesses, we need more commercial sector partners to get involved. Your help is important to reaching our goal to cut food waste in half by 2030. We can’t do it without you.
For many of us, virtual engagements have become a normal way of life. The ability to access trainings and information any time of day, from our computers, has become a convenient and safe way to stay informed and engaged. To that end, SWACO has created the From Waste to Resources webinar series which makes free educational webinars available monthly on best practices for reducing waste, reuse, recycling, composting and safely disposing of unwanted materials. Here are just three of the most recent webinars offered:
SHOP SMARTER AND START SAVING
Take a deep dive on meal planning and shopping smarter in order to save money and avoid waste. Featuring Local Matters and The Kroger Company.
Watch the Webinar
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REDUCE FOOD WASTE AT HOME
Learn to reduce food waste at home by cooking with a plan, proper food storage, using up leftovers, and more. Featuring Chef L. Fernando Mojica.
Watch the Webinar
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GO BEYOND FOOD:
LEARN THE RECYCLING BASICS
Recycling right is easy and convenient. SWACO now offers a monthly From Waste to Resources webinar series on a variety of diversion topics.
Watch the Webinar
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SWACO Recognized Nationally
for Food Waste Efforts
As the founding member of the Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative and the Save More Than Food campaign, SWACO was honored to be recognized with the 2020 Outstanding Recycling Organization from the National Recycling Coalition. The award recognizes the outstanding growth of programs and impacts pertaining to food waste diversion in central Ohio and is the reflection of the combined efforts of the Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative. Congratulations, Central Ohio!
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