First annual Nevada Food Waste Awareness Month launches this April

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and local partners are excited to kick off the first-ever Nevada Food Waste Awareness Month this April. Throughout the month, NDEP and partner organizations will host a series of events and community outreach activities focused on best practices for buying, storing, and composting food to protect the environment while helping to reduce grocery costs for Nevada families.

“Food waste is the largest source of household waste that makes its way into Nevada’s landfills,” said Daren Winkelman, Chief of NDEP’s Bureau of Sustainable Materials Management. “Food waste impacts more than just your wallet; the methane released by rotting food contributes to harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Taking simple steps to reduce food waste can add up to big improvements for our environment and maintain Nevada’s leadership in creating clean, healthy, and vibrant communities.”

The month-long campaign will commence on Friday, April 1 with a webinar hosted by NDEP: “Food Waste 101.” This will be an introduction to what food waste is, why it matters, where it occurs, and how to prevent it.

Some of the benefits of addressing food waste include:

• Save Money: By limiting the amount of food that gets thrown away, your family can save thousands of dollars a year.

• Support Nevadans in Need: If you have extra food at home, consider donating it to a local food bank or shelter to support Nevada families and children experiencing food insecurity.
• Conserve Resources: Keeping food out of landfills helps lower greenhouse gas pollution, and composting food scraps can help make healthy soil for your garden.

Partner organizations will also be hosting events to help inform Nevadans about the importance of limiting food waste. For a complete list of events, please visit the Nevada Recycles website.

Partnering Organizations