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Posts tagged ‘why waste it’

Nov 17

Goal: Reduce food waste this holiday season

agriculture basket close up colorful

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, bringing the friend and family food fest with it! While we prepare the feast and give thanks for the plentiful food we have, it is important to consider the amount of food that goes to waste this holiday season.

Food is one of the most important areas of sustainability in our daily lives and it is often overlooked! Reducing food waste is important for everyone because it saves both money and resources.

Did you know that the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates 35 percent of turkey meat cooked at Thanksgiving gets wasted?

That’s a lot of wasted resources!

When we reduce food waste we save:

  • The resources and water used to grow crops and raise animals
  • Manufacturing and energy resources
  • Transportation resources and greenhouse gas emissions
  • Money by buying less and throwing away less
  • Disposal costs and emissions

That last one is significant– food sent to landfills is a powerful source of methane. A whopping 40 percent of food meant for eating is thrown away.

All of this rotting food produces a lot of greenhouse gases. In fact if food waste could be represented as its own country, it would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter, behind China and the U.S.

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Jul 8

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Your Trash is Beautiful – Why Waste It?

Have you spotted the new truck wraps on Salt Lake City’s Sanitation vehicles?

Yes, your trash is beautiful!

We’re asking Salt Lake City residents to take a second look at the things they are throwing in the trash. Did you know that 60% of your household garbage… isn’t?

Curbside Recycling

Let’s get real, we all know that cardboard and plastic bottles should be recycled. But what about that Styrofoam, plastic bag, plastic utensils and juice carton? Well, they ALL can go in your curbside recycling bin in Salt Lake City!

Once you explore all the items that should be recycled, you’ll realize just how little should be going into your curbside garbage bin.

Here’s a fun little rhyme about the big plastic question…

Plastic number make you wonder? Throw it in the big blue bin!

Seriously, if it is made out of plastic — recycle it.

Explore all the items that can be recycled in your blue bin.

Curbside Compost

Otherwise known as the yard waste bin, or the tan can, the brown bin accepts grass clippings, twigs, branches, raw fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, eggshells and tea bags.

Think of it as your friendly backyard compost bin, but picked up weekly!

Explore the items that can be composted in your brown bin.

The City is currently exploring our options to expand the materials excepted in the curbside compost bin, so stay tuned…

Bin Guides — Learn What Goes into Each Bin (w/pictures!)

Here are some handy flyers that outline what should go in each curbside bin. Any questions? Just ask us!

Nov 20

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#WhyWasteIt? The Logistics of Glass Collection

Here’s the scoop on the logistics of curbside glass collection. For program details, including information on how to sign up, check out “The Basics of Curbside Glass.”

Guest blog by Katie McKeon of Momentum Recycling.

The curbside glass recycling is a once per month collection that does not occur on your standard garbage day.

We have divided up the City into 20 different service zones, each having their own glass pick up date. Check out the map below to find your neighborhood glass pick up date. Read more