Tag Archives: Recycling

Don’t Waste Food SC Holds SC Food Waste Prevention Week

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The Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling’s Don’t Waste Food SC (DWFSC) campaign is hosting an inaugural SC Food Waste Prevention Week (FWPW) April 4-8. The main purpose of the week is to continue to increase awareness of the damaging economic, environmental, and social impacts of wasted food in South Carolina as well as to provide all South Carolinians with tools to help prevent wasted food.

“The sustainable management of food is essential,” said Myra Reece, DHEC Director of Environmental Affairs. “Prevention and donation to help feed those in need are the key first steps. In South Carolina, one in nine residents are food insecure, including one in seven children. If everyone does their part, this problem can be solved.”

Food remains the number one item thrown away by Americans – and South Carolinians – each year. In fiscal year 2021 (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021), South Carolina generated over 1,062,000 tons of food waste. Wasted food squanders the land, water, energy, labor, and other resources used to produce, package, and move food from farm to plate.

Tips to Reduce Food Waste

Most food waste occurs at home, which is why DWFSC focuses on tools to equip residents to prevent wasted food and to donate anything extra they create.

You can take several steps to contribute to FWPW and help reduce the amount of food waste that’s generated at home, including: · Plan your meals. Use what you have at home first. Meal Planner · Shop smart. Make a list, stick to it. Printable Shopping List

· Prep smart and store smart. Prepare perishable food soon after shopping or meal prep. Freeze items to keep fresh. Do the FIFO: first in, first out. Keep produce in its proper place. Fruit and Vegetable Storage Info

· Don’t be confused by date labels. Food doesn’t immediately spoil on the package date. Product Dating Info

· Love your leftovers. If dining out, take your leftovers home. Get creative and make new meals with leftovers.

· Buy directly from local farmers and markets. You’ll get fresher food and keep your dollars in the community. Where to Buy Local in SC · Donate non-perishable items. Feed your neighbors, not the landfill. Feeding the Carolinas Foodbanks

When You Can’t Save, Compost

It is important to note that no matter what measures we take to prevent wasted food, some waste is unavoidable. Food waste shouldn’t go in the garbage – it should be composted. Composting Info

Follow @dontwastefoodsc on Instagram and Facebook for FWPW content and additional resources. To learn more about Don’t Waste Food SC, visit http://www.scdhec.gov/dwfsc.

DHEC In the News: Flu season is here, Sand mine permits, Dispose of Vaping Devices

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Here’s a look at health and environmental news around South Carolina.

Is it too early to be thinking about flu season? The CDC says no

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WLTX.com) It may still feel like summer outside, but the seasons will change in a few weeks. Influenza viruses circulate all year, but flu activity usually begins to pick up in October and peaks between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

DHEC considering sand mine permit in Cottageville

WALTERBORO, S.C. (The Press and Standard) A proposal to establish a sand mine in the Cottageville area will be the topic of a South Caroline Department of Health and Environmental Control public hearing next month. The public hearing on Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria of Cottageville Elementary School, 648 Peirce Rd., will give residents an opportunity to voice their comments and views about MC Dirt Co. LLC of Summerville’s permit application.

Want to Get Rid of Vaping Devices? Now You Can Hand Them Over to the Feds

SACRAMENTO, C.A. (The Sacramento Bee) People throughout the Southeast can hand over their vaping devices as an “emerging public health threat” looms, federal officials say. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced its Charlotte District Office was teaming up with local officials to accept vaping devices and cartridges at sites across the region on Saturday.

DHEC continues to monitor and update confirmed and probable cases of severe pulmonary disease related to e-cigarette use or vaping.

DHEC In the News: Recycling grants, playground restoration, flu season is here

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Here’s a look at health and environmental news around South Carolina.

Grant helping City of Conway increase recycling and save money

CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) This week the City of Conway announced a grant from Horry County Solid Waste and DHEC allowing them to give 500 recycling carts to residents. This is now the first grant for the City’s recycling program; the last time Conway gave 500 carts to residents, it increased recycling in the City by 8%.

 

From old to new again: Greenwood school hoping to restore old playground

GREENWOOD, S.C. (Index-Journal) On a portion of Springfield Elementary’s 32-acre campus is an old playground. Students in Anne Glawe’s fifth-grade Gifted and Talented class, who are working with Greenwood County Litter Prevention Coordinator Maggie McMahon, want to recycle it.

 

Flu season begins, health experts recommend flu shots now

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) While flu season is often unpredictable, October typically marks the start which means it’s time to get that flu shot. Flu activity in South Carolina was listed as minimal on Tuesday, according to DHEC. But, health officials are bracing for a bad flu season.

 

How Recycling Impacts South Carolina

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According to the 2018 South Carolina Health Assessment, South Carolinians generate approximately 4.2 million tons of household trash and garbage annually. The South Carolina Solid Waste Policy and Management Act outlines the regulatory framework for insuring proper location, design, construction, operation and closure of solid waste facilities and requires maintenance of a state solid waste management plan.  The act also sets waste reduction and recycling goals for the state.

Why should we recycle?

Recycling is not mandatory, so why should we care?  According to www.recyclemoresc.org,

  • Recycling helps protect the environment. It conserves resources, prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect raw materials to make new products and lessens the need to build landfills.
  • Recycling helps our state’s economy. South Carolina has about 500 recycling businesses that provide more than 22,000 jobs.
  • Recycling saves energy. Manufacturing products from recycled materials use far less energy than creating the same product from raw material.

Check out the top 10 reasons why we should recycle.  Visit our website for places to recycle in your community.

The 12 Days of Reducing, Reusing and Recycling

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Although Christmas is a wonderful time of the year it is also a time when people generate tons of waste. While reducing, reusing, and recycling should be practiced year-round, it is even more important during the holidays when our waste is plenteous.

We at DHEC urge you to put these 12 recycling and waste reduction tips to use this holiday season:

1. Keep a waste-free kitchen: Before going shopping, look around to determine what you already have on hand and make a list of things you need before heading to the store. Compost or donate your unwanted food and recycle your cooking oil. Find other helpful tips at www.scdhec.gov/dont-waste-food-sc.

2. Have hard-to-recycle items? Consider only buying materials packaged in what can be recycled in your area. Find where and what you can recycle at www.scdhec.gov/HomeAndEnvironment/Recycling.

3. Give waste-less gifts like your time to clean someone’s house, piano or guitar lessons, gym memberships or certificates for pampering.

4. Most wrapping paper cannot be recycled, BUT you can reuse something to wrap with instead, such as paper bags, newspaper, maps or use reusable grocery bags, scarves or flower pots. Also reuse greeting cards to make gift tags.

5. Stop the unwanted mail! Check out ecocycle.org/junkmail for six easy steps. Make sure to recycle mail with your paper as well.

6. Prevent food waste this holiday by providing reusable containers or asking your guests to bring their own for leftovers.ledlights

7. Use LED lights, which last 10 times longer and use 80 percent less energy. Recycle your old strings of lights. Find more information on hard-to-recycle items at www.scdhec.gov/recycling-waste-reduction/recycling-hard-manage-items.

8. Go with an eco-deco theme by decorating with natural materials like greenery, gourds, fresh fruit and pine cones — all which can be composted after the holidays.

9. Set up a collection corner at your party by providing an area where guests can bring unwanted items to swap or donate.

10. Always let your guests know what can be recycled and composted. Clearly mark your bins and let guests know where they’re located.

11. Provide a green dining experience by using dishes and silverware instead of disposables.christmastree

12. Grind those greens. If you decorated a real tree and are ready for it to go, remember to find out where your county will be accepting them for grinding.

Visit the DHEC website for more tips and information on recycling and waste reduction.