Celebrate Food Waste Prevention Week With SWACO

This year, Food Waste Prevention Week is March 9th through the 15th, and it’s the perfect time to think about how you can reduce food waste not only at home but at all the places where you spend your time.

Do you work somewhere that produces food waste or doesn’t recycle?  SWACO offers Business Recycling and Food Waste Champion programs that help Franklin County businesses get started on their waste reduction journeys.  In this program, businesses will learn about food waste prevention, food donation, and how to start a composting program as well as how they can start or improve recycling.  They will receive free indoor containers and signage, reimbursement for six months of hauling, and free technical support and education.  Save More Than Food doesn’t have to be just for residents.  You can help spread the word on these programs and help businesses divert recyclables and food waste from the landfill.  Click HERE to learn more.

Community Spotlight: Ro’s Kitchen

The team at Ro’s Kitchen works hard to transform donated food into fresh, tasty, and healthy meals for central Ohio residents that don’t have the ability to cook at home. Long an important part of Columbus Food Rescue, Ro’s Kitchen also fills a gap for partner agencies that don’t have their own kitchens and has recently moved its own kitchen to space to Impact Community Action at 711 Southwood Avenue. This new space provides the staff and volunteers at Ro’s with additional kitchen hours and the ability to rescue more food and to host larger volunteer groups. In 2025 Ro’s Kitchen served more than 62,500 meals to help nourish members of our community in need. We are grateful to have Ro’s Kitchen and Columbus Food Rescue as part of the Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative.  Click HERE to watch a Good Day Extra episode about Columbus Food Rescue, or HERE to learn about how you can volunteer to help feed neighbors in need.

Fresh Takes Tip: What To Know About Date Labels

Did you know there is no required date label for any food other than on baby formula. “Best by” and “Sell by Dates” are decided on by the manufacturers for grocery stores to help move food quickly. Many times, with a simple smell and look test you can see whether an item is past its prime. The next time you grab a yogurt and look at the date, if it’s a few days past the “Best by Date” look and smell it first before you decide whether to toss it out. You might just find it’s still great and save yourself some money. Click HERE to learn more.

Fresh Takes Recipe: Tacos

Not everyone likes leftovers, but everyone loves tacos.  Click the link below to the left for a great way to reuse leftovers in delicious tacos and follow along as Chef Miguel shares his tips for the best tacos around using leftover chicken, onion, and peppers. Link to recipe.

SWACO Can Help You Save Money And Cut Food Waste

We are here to help you! At SaveMoreThanFood.org we have resources for home, work, school, restaurants and community. If you have questions and can’t find the answers at the website, please email us at FoodWaste@SWACO.org.