Editor’s Note: As a follow-up to her Letter to the Board editorial in the May-June newsletter, Liz offered to do a series on recycling, and we enthusiastically accepted.
Recycling is turning something into a new product and putting it to use again. Your yard debris cart is one way to recycle your food scraps. Keeping food and other organic material out of the landfill is a huge way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Another way is backyard composting, which I’ve just started doing.
Other easy ways to reuse food scraps and reduce food waste are:
- Store veggie scraps in a freezer bag to use for making broths.
- Use veggie scraps in soups, stir fry, and burritos.
- Extra dried fruit, nuts, and cereal can be made into cookies or bars.
Best of all, though, is to reduce the amount of food you waste:
- Menu plan with what you have. Shop your fridge, freezer, and pantry first.
- Stick to your shopping list.
- Learn more about “Best By” and other dates stamped on packaging. Most food is safe to eat after that date, which is only an indicator to distributors.
Questions or comments about recycling? E-mail Liz (elizabeth.ann.erickson@gmail.com).