Get ready to bin the waste, not the grub! The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is dishing out a major effort to cut down on chow chucking during its third annual Food Waste Prevention Week, taking place April 1-7. The state is setting the table for a big conversation on tossing less and saving more, with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee officially designating the week for activities aplenty aimed at enlightening folks about the issue.
TDEC is teaming up with a smorgasbord of organizations, including the University of Tennessee Extension, Clean Memphis, and others, for a week filled with both online and face-to-face happenings designed to teach Tennesseans how to reduce food waste and increase food recovery. There's even, a statewide food drive running through April 14, with the University of Tennessee Extension identifying drop-off points for much-needed donations here.
"TDEC is proud to be a part of this effort to bring awareness to the issue of food waste," TDEC Commissioner David Salyers commented on the initiative. The kickoff is set for Nashville at Tennessee State University, where a panel of local food savants will weigh in, followed by a chef demo that'll show how to turn surplus food into fine cuisine. The real kicker? These activities, including local brewery events in Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga on April 6, are all free and family-friendly, making them perfect for anyone wanting to get in on the food-saving action.
And if you think the week can't get any better, think again. Some innovative brewers are partnering with local bakeries to transform unsold bread into a new brew, concocting a literal taste of sustainability for the event finale. All the info for Tennessee's waste-not want-not extravaganza, including how to attend, can be found by clicking this link. It's not just a Volunteer State special - it's part of a national Food Waste Prevention Week where states across the country are rolling up their sleeves to tackle this pressing issue.
