Clark County has joined a national movement to prevent food waste. The Clark County Council on Tuesday proclaimed April 1-7 to be Food Waste Prevention Week, joining the international sustainability campaign with more than 600 organizations working to implement and amplify food waste prevention education.

Washington generates an estimated 1.1 million tons of food waste each year, including 400,000 tons of edible food that is disposed of in landfills. Nationally, up to 35% of all food produced is thrown away rather than eaten. 

Clark County Public Health’s Solid Waste Education and Outreach team aims to keep nourishing food out of the landfill by teaching residents how to prevent food waste and recover edible food.

In celebration of Food Waste Prevention Week, the Solid Waste Education and Outreach team is launching a podcast series, produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver’s student-run radio station, KougRadio. The five-episode series will feature discussions of hot topics around food waste and offer tips for how families can save money and prevent food waste. The podcast features local food waste experts, including Pete DuBois from Clark County Composter Recycler and Stacey Tigner-Loy from WSU Clark County Extension SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program.

The complete podcast series will be released on Monday, April 1 on the Clark County Green Neighbors website, as well as on the Green Neighbors YouTube channel and the KougRadio website. 

In addition to the podcast series, the Solid Waste Education and Outreach team – in collaboration with Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries and WSU Clark County Extension SNAP-Ed – will host an interactive workshop, “Cooking with Leftovers on a Budget,” featuring Tigner-Loy. The free workshop is 6-7:30 pm Wednesday, April 3 at the Cascade Park Community Library, 600 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver. Advanced registration on the Composter Recycler website is requested. 

Tigner-Loy’s innovative approach to cooking with leftovers draws inspiration from many different cuisines and incorporates waste-saving tips from cultures across the globe. Participants will learn about mindful food purchasing, storing and cooking. This family-friendly event will also feature a live cooking demonstration. 

Learn more about food waste prevention on the Clark County Green Neighbors website.