SWANCC Encourages Residents to "Think Before You Throw"
More than 33 million tons of food is wasted each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“Think before you throw” has been the mantra of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) since becoming an intergovernmental Agency in 1988. As a new year begins, SWANCC encourages residents to be more aware of what they buy and throw away, and that there are many ways to recover materials rather than sending them to landfill. Food scrap waste heads up the list. In November 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that food is now the single largest type of waste going to America’s municipal landfills and incinerators. To provide guidance for residents interested in composting, SWANCC developed a 7-minute video called Composting At Home. To learn more about backyard composting, tips for success and a…
