Composting food scraps can significantly reduce the amount of trash you produce and keep your garbage odors to a minimum. Our city’s curbside organics and yard waste collection makes it simple by accepting ALL types food scraps, fruits, veggies, meats, bones, oils and even your napkins and Kleenex can go in the bin. Print out the flyer below for easy reference. You can also compost right in your backyard with a bin or pile. Backyard composting is best for fruit and vegetable scraps along with yard waste such as leaves and grass clippings. Have questions about the curbside program? Email us at Compost help.

http://www.swalco.org/245/How-To-Compost

Way more than just shopping bags – Think of how much plastic waste one kitchen can generate with packaging, bags, cling wrap, detergent bottles, single use utensils, and more. Then think about how many paper towels and napkins you go through in a day. This can all be minimized by buying products like dry beans, grains and spices in bulk, filling your own jars. Pick your fruit and veggies from bins and put them in reusable produce bags. Look for beeswax wraps to replace cling wrap for storing leftovers. You can even use a plate as a lid on a bowl of food. Take your own container for deli items at the grocery store or leftovers when dining out. Buy powder detergent packaged in cardboard. Ditch your paper napkins and towels for cloth ones or look for 100% recycled content products.

What is eating for the climate? Making food choices based on their environmental impact such as pesticide use, transportation emissions and methane gas production through animal waste and landfill accumulation. You can make a difference by purchasing organic foods, subscribing to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, shopping local and eating less meat.  Up to 40% of food is wasted, according to the NRDC, along with the energy and resources that it takes to produce and transport that food.Buy only what you can eat or freeze leftovers for another night to reduce food waste at home. When dining out look for restaurants that compost or source local ingredients. Find some delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes from our readers here.