Tackling climate change, food insecurity, and economic waste one meal at a time Licia Goodridge knows just how expensive food waste is. Since food is mostly water, which weighs eight pounds per gallon, and hauling contracts are based on weight, she knew her school district was wasting money transporting something to the dump that could Read More
food waste
Maine Environment Fall 2017 Newsletter
Maine Environment Fall 2017: What’s Inside! School lunch programs are contributing enormously to food waste and the problems associated with it, included climate change. NRCM is tackling the school food waste problem in a growing number of districts around Maine. You can read about it in the article, “Taking a Bite Out of Food Waste,” written Read More
Food Waste a No Go in Sebago
Sebago Elementary School principal, Kirsten Goff, received an email in August that intrigued her. NRCM’s “Food Guy,” Ryan Parker, had reached out to the principals of Maine’s K-12 schools with some information about reducing food waste in Maine’s public education system. Principal Goff immediately contacted Ted Bridge-Koenigsberg, who teaches science and language arts at the Read More
Unity College Awarded for Taking a Bite Out of Food Waste!
Unity College was recently recognized by the National Association of College and University Food Services for its commitment to sustainability! That’s good news, not only for the college but for other educational institutions throughout Maine. Unity’s efforts include initiatives that look at every level of the Food Recovery Hierarchy as a tool in the toolbox Read More
Windham Middle School Students Help Reduce School Waste
Two weeks ago, I had the great treat to get out of the office and head to Windham Middle School. I met up with NRCM staff member Ryan Parker and two NRCM members to learn what the Windham Middle School Green Team had been up to over the course of the school year. Windham was Read More
From Trash to Table, RSU 19 is Seeking to Put Its Food Waste to Better Use
By Lauren Abbate, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story ETNA, Maine ― Mid-afternoon on a recent Thursday the students at the Etna-Dixmont School were outside frolicking through a field on the left side of the school. While a passerby might mistake the children’s high spirits for a typical recess session, they were actually participating Read More
Support of LD 1534, An Act to Address Hunger, Support Maine Farms, and Reduce Waste
Senator Saviello, Representative Tucker, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, my name is Ryan Parker and I am the Environmental Policy Outreach Coordinator for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I appreciate this opportunity to testify in support of LD 1534. NRCM supports the intent and language of LD Read More
The Costs of Buying Food We Throw Out
By Bonnie Washuk, Staff Writer Sun Journal news story It’s almost Christmas, a time traditionally to not only spend money on gifts and decorations but also on food for feasts and gatherings. Want to save some easy money during this budget-busting season? Don’t buy food and throw it away. That’s the message from a host Read More
RSU 16 Takes a Stand to Cut Food Waste and Costs
RSU 16, comprised of schools in Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland, which recently made news for pushing back against a waste handling company trying to bill the schools for dumpster removal, is pushing ahead with their efforts to implement recycling and composting programs. RSU 16 schools are working to reduce waste and save money. As Read More
