vances goal to cut food waste in half over next 10 years and reach 75%
diversion by 2032
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web
page<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA5MTUuMjcxMjUwOTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2NvbnRlbnQuZ292ZGVsaXZlcnkuY29tL2FjY291bnRzL09IU1dBQ08vYnVsbGV0aW5zLzJhMDk5YzUifQ.lnEdx9PGRyezTSh-Chc2ti8UDbX2KLZxt9FG79zVlPg/s/976573719/br/84902131832-l__;!!KGKeukY!kSjiVbOFNvy-Td0d_wEiNFwICRwrdLyQZ6BEN0DPUsOAMtSViH40qkDW69ASkW0$>.
[SWACO news release 2017]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Hanna Greer-Brown,
Communications Manager
614.801.6419
Hanna.Greer-Brown@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:hanna.greer-brown@xxxxxxxxx>
SWACO seeks to make a lasting impact with “Save More Than Food” campaign
Advances goal to cut food waste in half over next 10 years and reach 75%
diversion by 2032
In central Ohio, food waste is a complex issue that’s impacting the health of
our community, economy, and environment in ways many people don’t realize.
That’s why SWACO and more than 150 partners in the Central Ohio Food Waste
Initiative (COFWI) have teamed up to create and launch “Save More Than Food,
Make a Difference,” a consumer education campaign aimed at cutting food waste -
in homes, schools, restaurants and businesses - in half by 2030.
Every day, central Ohio residents and businesses throw out a million pounds of
food. Food waste is the largest portion of the waste stream and accounts for
15% of all material in the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill. That’s a lot of
food that’s going to waste – food that could be feeding hungry people or, at
minimum, returned to the earth in the form of a nutrient-rich soil enhancement.
In addition to being the top material thrown out each day, food waste also
presents one of the best opportunities to increase Franklin County’s diversion
rate and reach 75% by 2032, a goal set by SWACO in 2017.
“Franklin County’s diversion rate already exceeds the national average,” said
Ty Marsh, SWACO’s Executive Director. Diversion includes activities such as
reducing waste, recycling and composting. “These activities strengthen our
local economy as well as protect the health of our environment today and for
future generations. Central Ohio is already a leader among our peers when it
comes to these efforts; however, if we want to continue to pave the way and
reach greater diversion from the landfill, food waste prevention, rescue, and
composting must be included as part of our collective solution.”
To that end, in 2018, SWACO convened nonprofit, education, government and
business entities to work together to reduce food waste in central Ohio.
Calling itself the Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative (COFWI), the group
published the Central Ohio Food Waste Action
Plan<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?data=02*7C01*7Ckyle.okeefe*40swaco.org*7C9436044ab48b499181d608d854fe618f*7C261c77adb0ff48a8bd10b918d26e0650*7C0*7C0*7C637352798842756923&reserved=0&sdata=X42JQyY5qoftNEkWx1CIkRjBVR*2FTTCB7KmzxIzwwReY*3D&url=https*3A*2F*2Fstatic1.squarespace.com*2Fstatic*2F5b5f60004611a0ace8e408d7*2Ft*2F5ce426fb2fdf0e00019a12da*2F1558456073451*2FCentral*2BOhio*2BFood*2BWaste*2BAction*2BPlan.pdf*3Futm_content*3D*26utm_medium*3Demail*26utm_name*3D*26utm_source*3Dgovdelivery*26utm_term*3D&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJQ!!KGKeukY!kSjiVbOFNvy-Td0d_wEiNFwICRwrdLyQZ6BEN0DPUsOAMtSViH40qkDWKXZYREU$>
in May 2019 with the ultimate goal to cut food waste in half by 2030. The plan
laid out 20 specific initiatives for preventing food waste, rescuing and
redistributing edible food, and recycling food through composting and other
technologies. Creating a consumer education campaign was one of the priority
initiatives identified in order to lay a foundation for future diversion work.
“Save More Than Food” is designed to communicate an important message – that
when food goes to waste, so does all of the time, money and resources that went
into producing it. The numbers are startling. Wasted food accounts for an
estimated $106 million in economic loss in central Ohio. In addition, 22
million gallons of gas and 41 billion gallons of water are used every year to
grow and transport food that never gets eaten.
COVID-19 has had impacts too.
According to a survey of 500 households across the U.S. conducted in July by
the Ohio State Food Waste Collaborative, 58% of respondents said they are
cooking at home more than they were a year ago. Survey participants also
reported a high rate of intention to eat the food in their refrigerators rather
than let it go to waste, which is good news; however, a similar study from 2018
revealed that people tend to significantly overestimate how much food they hope
to eat.
“Since the pandemic began in March, people have been preparing and eating more
meals at home,” said Kyle O’Keefe, SWACO’s Director of Innovation and Programs.
“Save More Than Food" is designed to connect residents and families, schools,
and businesses to resources and information on the simple changes they can make
to help reduce food waste and save precious resources.”
As local businesses and schools continue to slowly open back up and serve their
customers in new and different ways, “Save More Than Food” can serve as a
resource for reducing waste.
The campaign’s website provides tips and advice on a variety of things that can
be done and which have a lasting impact. Commercial kitchens can participate in
donating uneaten meals and training employees on food waste prevention
practices. Individuals can reduce waste by shopping smarter, eating leftovers,
and participating in local composting programs.
“The Ohio Restaurant Association is proud to partner with SWACO on this
exciting and impactful campaign that will reduce food waste in the central Ohio
region. Restaurant and foodservice businesses are always on the cutting edge of
technology and innovation, as well as making a difference in their communities.
By participating in this campaign, our members and restaurant industry leaders
can take steps to decrease food waste in their own establishments, as well as
inspire their guests to be informed about food waste prevention initiatives
like recycling, composting and divergence,” said John Barker, Ohio Restaurant
Association President & CEO.
“The food that we choose to eat - and not to eat - has a bigger impact on our
environment and community than many people realize. Thankfully reducing food
waste is a fun, easy, and delicious way to make a difference,” added Lucy
Schroder, SWACO’s Food Waste Initiative Coordinator.
To learn more about the campaign and how you can help create a positive change
for the community, visit
SaveMoreThanFood.org<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA5MTUuMjcxMjUwOTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnNhdmVtb3JldGhhbmZvb2Qub3JnLz91dG1fY29udGVudD0mdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fbmFtZT0mdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSZ1dG1fdGVybT0ifQ.1rcmwJcm6CbY5E2p6fTnSrmqNoK3w_P9qFuSVI82fOU/s/976573719/br/84902131832-l__;!!KGKeukY!kSjiVbOFNvy-Td0d_wEiNFwICRwrdLyQZ6BEN0DPUsOAMtSViH40qkDWT77Jmr0$>.
-30-
________________________________
Stay Connected with Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio:
[Facebook]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA5MTUuMjcxMjUwOTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5mYWNlYm9vay5jb20vU1dBQ08uT1JHP3V0bV9jb250ZW50PSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9uYW1lPSZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5JnV0bV90ZXJtPSJ9.U9KpgxgmFGVQahCzoCp5BF3QfkPA3M9UhhKFsTG7_cE/s/976573719/br/84902131832-l__;!!KGKeukY!kSjiVbOFNvy-Td0d_wEiNFwICRwrdLyQZ6BEN0DPUsOAMtSViH40qkDWRyzEDu0$>
[Twitter]
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA5MTUuMjcxMjUwOTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL1NXQUNPR3JlZW4_dXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX25hbWU9JnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkmdXRtX3Rlcm09In0.p5DfQQJvq-Pm39x_zALd7IxwPn5vhDz-zTh9jAaWFMk/s/976573719/br/84902131832-l__;!!KGKeukY!kSjiVbOFNvy-Td0d_wEiNFwICRwrdLyQZ6BEN0DPUsOAMtSViH40qkDWg14Dayk$>
[Govdelivery]
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA5MTUuMjcxMjUwOTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3B1YmxpYy5nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeS5jb20vYWNjb3VudHMvT0hTV0FDTy9zdWJzY3JpYmVyL2VkaXQ_cHJlZmVyZW5jZXM9dHJ1ZSN0YWIxIn0.npF0AV8_cnxHS1FVabvKiOoDeRJuK-9ETp1SbWG3gII/s/976573719/br/84902131832-l__;!!KGKeukY!kSjiVbOFNvy-Td0d_wEiNFwICRwrdLyQZ6BEN0DPUsOAMtSViH40qkDWP-QRV4g$>
________________________________
[GovDelivery
logo]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDgsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA5MTUuMjcxMjUwOTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3N1YnNjcmliZXJoZWxwLmdyYW5pY3VzLmNvbS8_dXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX25hbWU9JnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkmdXRtX3Rlcm09In0.GWtfxZdblJOnlbKl6TeEaorJ7BnCGdnNbvkMMdDiKHA/s/976573719/br/84902131832-l__;!!KGKeukY!kSjiVbOFNvy-Td0d_wEiNFwICRwrdLyQZ6BEN0DPUsOAMtSViH40qkDW2MyOlTs$>
