Solid Waste Alliance Communities (SWAC)

10/14/2026

❄️ Savvy Storage Tips: Freezer Edition!

Did you know you can freeze almost anything? From cooked rice, pasta, and quiche to milk, cheese, ginger, beans, and leftover casseroles, your freezer is one of the best tools for stretching your food budget and preventing waste.

As we wrap up the final week of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation's ( / ) Scrap Food Waste Challenge, here is how to make your freezer work for you:

Freezer Safety & Hacks
🌡️ 100% Safe at 0°F: Food kept at 0°F remains safe indefinitely because freezing stops microbial growth.

🍲 Don't Toss Freezer Burn: Dried out or discolored food is still safe to eat! Trim off freezer burned edges on meat, or blend freezer burned veggies straight into a pot of soup or stir fry where texture changes will not be noticed.

📝 Keep a Door Inventory: Tape a quick list to your freezer door with item names and dates. Check items off as you eat them so good food does not get forgotten in the back.

What NOT to Freeze
While most foods freeze beautifully, skip freezing these items to avoid texture issues:

🥚 Eggs in their shells

🥛 Cream based or mayonnaise based sauces

🌽 Gravies or sauces thickened with cornstarch (they tend to curdle or separate when thawed)

Quick Meal Idea: "Use-It-Up" Soup!
Soup is the ultimate way to rescue ingredients before they go bad or use up veggies that have been in the freezer a bit too long. Simmer your extra produce with broth and seasonings, blend, and enjoy a warm, low waste meal!

What is your favorite item to keep stashed in the freezer for quick weeknight dinners?

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10/13/2026

🔪 Smart Kitchen Prep: Keep the Nutrients, Skip the Waste!

Did you grow up peeling every carrot and potato before cooking? Skipping the peeler and making a few small tweaks to your kitchen prep routine is an easy way to get more nutrients out of your food while reducing daily organic waste.

In honor of the ongoing Scrap Food Waste Challenge with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation ( / ), here are four simple ways to make the most of your produce:

🥕 Keep the Skins On: Carrots, potatoes, and apples have rich nutrition right in their peels! Give them a good wash and leave the skins intact.

🥒 De-Wax Cucumbers Easily: Instead of peeling waxy store-bought cucumbers, wash them thoroughly and rub them with an abrasive kitchen towel to remove the waxy layer.

🍓 Trim Strawberries & Tomatoes Wisely: Pluck off the green leaves and slice out just the tiny stem instead of chopping off the entire top of the fruit.

🥝 Try Thinly Sliced Kiwis: Slice kiwis super thin with the skin on. The fuzzy texture virtually disappears, saving you prep time and keeping extra fiber in your diet.

Avoid short cuts like slicing the entire top off a bell pepper or throwing away bruised produce. Slice around bad spots, carve out only the core or seeds, and enjoy every edible bit!

What is your favorite trick for reducing food waste during prep?

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10/12/2026

https://www.mashed.com/156698/foods-that-surprisingly-never-expire/

The next time you go to the grocery store, you might notice something curious about how it's arranged. Here are the foods that never expire.

10/12/2026

https://hls.harvard.edu/today/food-law-and-policy-clinic-releases-short-film-on-food-waste-in-america/

The Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC), in partnership with Racing Horse Productions, has released a short film, "EXPIRED? Food Waste in America," that explores how the variety of date labels on food products contributes to food waste in America.

10/09/2026

https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/food/store-food-refrigerator

Follow these fridge storage tips to keep foods—including leftovers—fresher longer and reduce the risk of contamination.

09/28/2026

🥦 The Scrap Food Waste Challenge starts TODAY!

Today marks day one of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation's 2026 Scrap Food Waste Challenge ( / )! It is not too late to jump in and start receiving free daily tips sent straight to your inbox through October 16.

Over the next three weeks, participants will get quick, actionable guidance on:
🛒 Strategic meal planning and shopping smart at the grocery store
🍎 Simple food storage hacks to keep produce fresh longer
🍲 Delicious use-it-up recipes to make the most of what is in your fridge

Preventing food waste keeps hard earned money in your pocket and keeps valuable organic material out of local landfills!

👉 Sign up now to join the challenge:

ScrapFoodWaste.org

Send a message to learn more

09/15/2026

https://apnews.com/article/date-labels-food-safety-bb24663c6d37c10075270658e8df6c7b

Many people throw away food based on confusing expiration labels like “Best By” or “Sell By.” Experts say these labels often indicate freshness, not safety.

09/14/2026

🥦 Want to save money on groceries and reduce food waste?

Join the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation ( / ) for the 2026 Scrap Food Waste Challenge starting September 28! This three week event is designed to help Vermonters rethink food waste and make small, impactful changes in the kitchen.

When you sign up, you will receive short daily emails covering essential topics like:
🛒 Strategic grocery shopping and meal planning
🍎 Smart food storage hacks to make ingredients last longer
🍲 Creative use-it-up recipes to prevent waste

Wasting less food not only saves you hard earned money on your weekly grocery bill, but it is also a powerful climate solution that prevents unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions!

👉 Sign up today to get your daily tips starting Sept 28.

ScrapFoodWaste.org

09/09/2026

https://wasteadvantagemag.com/solar-panel-recycling-why-it-matters-and-how-it-actually-works/

Mandar Shewale   Solar power has a waste problem nobody likes to talk about at ribbon-cutting ceremonies. The same panels installed during the

09/03/2026

🌧️ September is National Preparedness Month! Is your home waste-ready for severe weather?

Late summer and early fall storms can bring sudden power outages, heavy rain, or localized flooding. When prepping your emergency kits and storm checklists, taking a few extra steps around your home, basement, and shed protects your property and keeps local waterways clean!

Emergency Prep & Safe Storage Checklist
⛽ Elevate Hazardous Liquids: Store gas cans, lawn chemicals, paint, and household cleaners on elevated shelves above potential floodlines in basements and sheds.

🔋 Check Flashlight & Radio Batteries: Keep fresh alkaline batteries on hand for power outages, and remember to save spent batteries in a safe container for transfer station recycling rather than the trash!

🥩 Plan for Power Outages: Keep freezer doors closed if power drops. If food spoils, separate items into your backyard compost or local food scrap collection bins instead of overloading standard trash containers.

📦 Secure Outdoor Containers: Anchor or move outdoor trash and recycling containers inside a garage or shed before high winds hit to keep loose debris from blowing into roads and storm drains.

Post-Storm Cleanup Reminders
🚫 Keep Chemical Spills Away from Drains: Never pour gas, oil, paint, or chemical cleaners down household sinks, toilets, or outdoor storm drains! Pouring toxic liquids down the drain damages septic micro-organisms, corrodes plumbing, and passes straight into local streams and groundwater.

🍂 Yard Debris & Branches: Fallen leaves, twigs, and garden debris can easily be composted right in your backyard pile or garden beds. For larger limbs or excess brush, check with your local transfer station or town drop-off area.

Taking simple steps today keeps your family safe and protects our regional environment!

Send a message to learn more