Dear Friend of Sustainable Princeton,
You’ve probably heard about the Municipality of Princeton’s recent decision to temporarily suspend the residential curbside organics program. While we are dismayed, we are encouraged that the municipality is continuing to explore other options. We agree that this decision, as outlined in a letter from Mayor Lempert, is in the best interest of the program’s environmental goals.
This temporary suspension serves as a useful reminder that there is no such place as “away.” Sustainability requires looking at the waste system as a whole and adopting solutions that reduce environmental impact throughout the entire food supply chain.
Check out these resources to prevent and divert wasted food in accordance with the EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy:
Source Reduction:
A lot of food goes to waste in our homes — the site Save The Food estimates 40%. They provide helpful tips for planning, food storage and recipes from scraps
Feed Hungry People:
Find a local food pantry and follow their guidelines for accepting food donations. The Municipality of Princeton’s website has a comprehensive list of Food Resources
Feed Animals:
Backyard chickens and animal feed for local farms are good options for recycling food scraps
Backyard composting:
It’s mid-winter and admittedly it may feel too cold, but it’s never too early to jump into backyard composting. Here are several sites with different methods of DIY composting:
- Backyard Composting: Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County
- Composting at Home: US Environmental Protection Agency
- Create an Indoor Worm Composting Bin: US Environmental Protection Agency
It is our hope that the program will resume, but in the meantime consider incorporating these food waste reduction practices into your daily lives. Please share this information with family, friends and neighbors. Together, we can make an impact.
Sincerely,
The Sustainable Princeton Team
