Some Basics to get you Started

Prevention Resources

Understanding Date Labels Did you know that date labels aren’t regulated in the United States? No wonder they're confusing.
Collage of fresh fruits and vegetables
Food Storage & Revival Guide Prolong the life of your food with good storage
Lunch With Lucy Watch quick video's for tips and tricks from SWACO's food waste expert on reducing your food waste at home
Know your Fridge Knowing your fridge can help your food stay fresh longer
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Learn about Date Labels

Best by? Use by? Expires on? The food waste focused non-profit ReFED estimates that as much as 20% of consumer food waste is caused by confusion over the meaning of date labels. And no wonder! Date labels mean something different for each manufacturer. While date labels can help you approximate how long a food has been around, rely on other methods like the “sniff-test” and visual cues such as signs of aging, mold, or rotting to decide whether your food is okay to eat.

Take a date label quiz from food waste non-profit ReFED and learn more about how date labels vary from state to state.

The Art of Freezing

You can freeze almost any food (Just not eggs in their shells or canned foods!). Once fully frozen, your food will never become unsafe to eat, but try to eat it within 6 months of freezing to maximize flavor and freshness. Check out the link for helpful tips.

How to Waste Less with Kids

When you have young one’s to feed, picky eating, distractions during meals, and a tendency to throw food can all be challenges when trying to reduce food waste. But there are some things that you can do to help waste less food with kids.

Check out the "From Waste to Resources" Webinar Series

Routinely, SWACO offers free educational webinars on best practices for reducing waste, reuse, recycling, composting and safely disposing of unwanted materials. Go to SWACO's website to learn about a variety of waste diversion opportunities, or find recent food waste webinars at the links provided.
Additional Prevention Resources

Planning & Shopping & Cooking Resources

We’re all human. Sometimes we forget about that extra bell pepper that we saved for another day or discover a lonely wrinkled apple at the bottom of the fruit bin.

Meal Plan for a Group A dinner party calculator that estimates how much food you need to keep guests full & happy
Cooking with Food Scraps From cheese rinds to leftover Thanksgiving turkey, find recipes for all kinds of leftover foods
Hellmann's Fridge Night Find a "Flexible Recipe" that pulls together whatever's left in the fridge before the next grocery trip!
Flash Food App This app helps customers save up to 60% on food nearing its best by date while reducing food waste at retail stores.

Shop with Food Waste Reducing Retailers

Some online food retailers specialize in selling food that otherwise would have gone to waste. Some items have a wonky shape, others are just not quite the right size- but all of them are still just as delicious!
Volunteer with a Food Rescue Organization

Food Donation

Divert Your Food Scraps

Composting Resources

Gathering food scraps
Collecting Food Scraps at Home 5 easy tips for keeping your kitchen bin and food scrap bucket odor and critter free.
Illustration of a girl in a field holding an apple core. A compost bin and apple tree are in the background
Backyard Composting Basics Use SWACO’s introductory guide to backyard composting to start your own compost pile.
Illustration of a girl standing next to a composting bin
Compost Troubleshooting Is your compost too smelly? Too wet? Or attracting pesky critters? Our Compost Troubleshooting Guide can help. Get no-sweat assistance and great tips in this guide.
Woman and girl gardening
Compost Bin Rebate Earn a $50 rebate on backyard composting equipment through Community Backyards Program through Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District.
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Community Food Waste Drop Off Programs

A growing number of Central Ohio communities have launched community food waste drop-off programs. Residents of these communities can drop-off their food scraps free of charge. Visit a community's website to learn how to sign up to use a site.


Curbside Composting and Other Drop-off Options

Fee-based curbside pick-up services and drop-off sites are available for residents who want to divert their organics but don't have access to a community sponsored drop-off and want an alternative to composting in the back yard.

Visit their company pages to learn more about options for residential composting.

Composting in the Cold

Whether you’re a new to composting or have a few seasons under your belt, composting in the Winter presents challenges in cold climates. Here are some tips to keep you composting throughout the Winter.
Backyard Composting

It's easy to get started!

Did you know? On average, every Central Ohio residents wastes $375 a year on food that they throw away.

Share The Campaign Talk to Family and Friends About Food Waste

Download and print copies of the Save More Than Food “At Home” flyer to start a conversation with family and friends about small steps that we can each take to save money and environmental resources by reducing food waste.

Share The Campaign