Keep Good Food From Going to Waste — Save $$

By Chris Hoffer, Environmental Programs Coordinator

Did you know that Americans discard about 25% of the food we buy? That adds up to more than $2,000 each year that is thrown away per family![1]

If the food in landfills around the world were a country, it would rank third in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, behind only the US and China.[2]

Be Part of the Solution

King County residents have the opportunity to help address these problems in a big way by becoming a King County Master Recycler Composter (MRC). You’ll learn all about curbside recycling and composting, and what you can do to reduce waste, including how to buy, store and prepare food to keep it from going bad, then share what you learn with your community.

The King County MRC program is open to residents outside the cities of Seattle and Milton, with an outreach focus in south King County. Training starts April 4. Find out more on our website – application are due by March 14!

Find Out More and Learn About other Programs

Attend an info session to learn more about what the King County MRC program has to offer and ask all your burning questions: Wednesday, March 11; 6:30-8 p.m. at Renton Highlands Neighborhood Center (800 Edmonds Ave NE, Renton). Please RSVP to chrishoffer@seattletilth.org.

If you live in Seattle, check out the Master Composter/Soil Builder program. Pick one of two info sessions: Wednesday, March 4; 6-7 p.m. at Chaco Canyon West Seattle (3770 SW Alaska St.) AND Thursday, March 5; 6-7 p.m. at Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands (5513 South Cloverdale St.). Please RSVP to justinmaltry@seattletilth.org.

If you live on the Eastside, take a peek at our Master Composter Eastside program. Attend an info session on Wednesday, March 4; 6-7:30 p.m. at McAuliffe Park (108th Ave. NE in Kirkland). Please RSVP to marenneldam@seattletilth.org.

Want to Start Wasting Less Food Right Away?

Seattle Tilth has been hired by King County to do this community outreach as part of King County’s Food: Too Good To Waste campaign. Try some of our favorite strategies:

• Shop smarter. Try shopping in your own pantry first, and come up with a list of meals for the week to avoid impulse buys. When you do head to the store, buy from the bulk bins to get just the right amount.
• Right food, right place. One of the best ways to keep food from going bad is knowing how and where to store fruits and veggies. Websites like stilltasty.com or eatbydate.com make it easy to find out how to store everything from kale (in a cup of water, in the fridge) to persimmons (at room temperature until ripe).
• Turn recipes into re-use-ipes. Try making a dish that can incorporate leftovers and whatever else is on hand. Fritattas, stir frys, stews and smoothies are all great ways to use up odds and ends that might otherwise end up in the compost bin.
• Know your leftovers. Prevent science experiments in your fridge by making room for a designated “eat soon” area. Put your leftovers there, as well as anything else that is close to spoiling, so they are front and center when you open the fridge to make a meal or grab a snack.
• Use your nose. Is your milk past the expiration date? Don’t just toss it! “Sell by” and “use by” dates are simply suggestions by the manufacture for so-called “peak” quality, and most foods can be safely enjoyed well after what’s printed on the container.

Check out our photo gallery (double-click on any image to see a larger version) to see what tips people shared with MRCs last summer at our booth. Then considering taking part in fun and rewarding community outreach offered by Seattle Tilth through King County Master Recycler Composter (MRC) and our other compost and recycling education programs!

King County Master Recycler Composter program is managed by Seattle Tilth as part of King County’s Recycle More and Food to Good to Waste campaigns.

[1] National Resource Defense Council, http://www.nrdc.org/food/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf.

[2] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3347e/i3347e.pdf.

A version of this blog post was printed in Seattle Tilth’s newsletter, Way to Grow, December 2014-January 2015.