Growing up, the least favorite job around the house was taking out the garbage and it seemed it needed to be done daily. In adulthood, it’s still the least favorite and still too frequently needed. If there’s someone around to be convinced to take the garbage out we’re all over the offer. Wishful thinking aside, it’s a fact of life and it got us to wondering if there is a way to attend to it less often – or at the least make it more useful?
Great news! There are a number of ways to get the most out of our trash and reduce food waste. Sure, you can use food scraps for soup stocks, pestos and smoothies but we thought we’d take the idea a step or two further and bring you some easy suggestions for items we don’t generally consider useful leftovers.
That Last Drop
We all know some overage is imbedded in the cost and weight of that condiment bottle or jar, but once we get the bulk of it out it feels like there is so much left even though it’s either inadequate for a full serving or not easily removable. Use what’s left as a base for something else by adding new ingredients and shaking to loosen the dregs.
Around the House
Food remnants can be used in the house and garden as cleaners, fertilizers and insect repellants.
Every step taken toward rethinking our daily approach to food waste has an impact. Small habits grow into greater awareness that spreads throughout the community reducing environmental expenditure, greenhouse gas emissions and food waste. That awareness creates a culture of support for organizations like Table to Table that rescue food from its likely dire end – the garbage can. Last year alone, Table to Table rescued more than 11 million pounds of food from our community of donors. A full circle approach of smarter shopping, throwing away less food, reusing and recycling food scraps and waste, and supporting food rescue organizations will all work to address the crises of hunger and maintain the well-being of our neighborhoods.