Each year, South Carolina produces approximately 600,000 tons of food waste. In fact, unused food is the number one item thrown away in the state; as, annually, an average family of four wastes $1,500 on discarded food. To combat this, many organizations across South Carolina are collaborating to implement a Don’t Waste Food S.C. campaign.
Launched last summer, with an event in the Midlands, this food waste reduction initiative is spreading to all corners of the state. On Wednesday, members of S.C. Commerce’s Recycling Market Development team partnered with officials at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as private sector allies, to promote the campaign with a joint press event in Greenville, S.C.
Robin Billings of the EPA’s Region 4 office lauded Team South Carolina’s efforts, saying, “As a former South Carolina resident, I appreciate the innovative partnerships that S.C. Commerce and S.C. DHEC have brought together.”
In the end, the goal of the campaign is to cut the state’s food waste in half by 2030. Doing so would have tremendous environmental and economic impacts. For every million tons of material that is composted, 1,400 jobs are created.
For additional information and to find out how your company can get involved in the Don’t Waste Food S.C. campaign, click here.