Minal is the Business Initiatives Lead with DEQ’s Materials Management Program. He focuses on enhancing well-being in the life cycles of materials produced and consumed in Oregon.
My parents were depression-era Oklahoma farm kids who came of age at a time and place that required men and women to have practical knowledge about a bit of everything. They were carpenters, hunters, farmers, seamstresses, veterinarians and mechanics. They grew or raised their own food and preserved it for lean times.
To celebrate Earth Day/Week/Month, Lauren and Dylan are talking about environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion – not just in general, but how this conversation is evolving at DEQ specifically. They are joined by three DEQ staff integral to this work:
Natalie Nava, DEQ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator
Chamille Hartman, Northwest Region Water Quality, also involved in the environmental justice work group
Ximena Cruzcueves, Cleanup Program Coordinator, also involved in the BIPOC affinity group, on the DEI Council, and leading the environmental justice work group
Recent headlines warn that the window is quickly closing to protect our future and preserve a livable planet. In Oregon, we have seen the effects of the climate crisis first-hand: hundreds of deaths from extreme heat waves; thousands of homes destroyed by wildfire; lakes and rivers drying up before our eyes; farmers without water to grow food; and the toxic algal blooms that shut down the city of Salem’s drinking water system for weeks in 2018.
Governor Kate Brown has proclaimed April 4 – 8, 2022 to be Food Waste Prevention Week, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is encouraging everyone living across the state to take simple steps to reduce waste and save money. Reducing food waste matters for a variety of reasons, including:
Up to 35% of all food in the U.S. is wasted and costs every Oregon household $1,800 per year on average (The EPA recently updated this figure from $1,600)
Food accounts for the second highest contribution to greenhouse gases by Oregon residents
Preventing one ton of food from being wasted reduces significantly more greenhouse gases than simply keeping food waste out of landfills
Seventy percent of food Oregon households throw out could have been eaten had it not been allowed to spoil. This food differs from the peels, bones and shells that clearly couldn’t be eaten
“This week is about highlighting the importance of reducing food waste to ensure fuller wallets and reduced harm to our environment,” says Elaine Blatt, senior policy analyst at DEQ. “By focusing on preventing food waste, we hope Oregon households will learn approaches they can use now and in the future to save money and protect our planet.”
There are many steps you can take to reduce food waste. Consider trying some of the following:
Store food that will go bad soonest in a visible part of the fridge or pantry
Know how and where to store food properly so it lasts longer (visit dontletgoodfoodgobad.org for specific tips on different types of food)
Keep track of what you have at home or what you need to use up before it goes bad
Create meals from what you have on hand
Finish all your leftovers
Freeze for later use
Monitor the temperature in the fridge to make sure it’s at the best setting to preserve your food
Check your refrigerator and pantry before you shop
During Food Waste Prevention Week, our partners at Save the Food Florida are running a fun twist on a traditional game. It’s called Bad Apple Bingo! Just save the photo below (or take a screenshot) and mark your bingo card with the action you take each day. Then repost using #savethefoodfl and tagging @SavetheFoodFL to be eligible to win! Aren’t into social media? No problem. Print the card and use it as a guide for how to fight food waste at home.
Bad Apple Bingo!
There’s more good news too! In the run-up to Food Waste Prevention Week, students around the country recently participated in the FOOD FUTURE HACK-A-THON. This contest challenged students to compete with their peers to solve a food waste challenge in a virtual invention marathon culminating with the presentation of a short, 2-3 minute video illustrating each team’s solutions.
The Eco Reps Team from Oregon State University won an award in the “Best Idea” category. Their project, “Crop Circle”, outlines an innovative program connecting farms and schools to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to schools.
Finally, there are other ways to participate in Food Waste Prevention Week. These include more games and challenges, K-12 student engagement contests, invention marathons and presentations with special guests, including celebrated local chefs and elected officials. Visit www.foodwastepreventionweek.com for all the details.
By Julie Miller, communications specialist, Materials Management, Oregon DEQ
As a follow up to our electric vehicle rebates episode, Lauren went out to test drive an EV and find out more about the buying experience. At the dealership, Lauren talks to their EV rep and asks the questions she (and hopefully, you) wants to know, like:
UNESCO commemorates International Day of Women and Girls in Science every Feb. 11 as part of an effort to educate the world about the barriers women and girls face when considering STEM careers. In honor of that day and as part of March’s celebration of women’s history, we asked DEQ employees their perspectives on why there aren’t more women in the science fields and what we can do about it. We received a wide variety of replies, which you can read below.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works recently held a hearing on biofuels policy during which Cory-Ann Wind had the opportunity to talk about Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program – one of the most successful statewide policies for addressing the state’s contribution to global climate change. Managed by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the program began in 2016 with the goal of cutting carbon emissions from transportation sector, the single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state.
“Really the bottom line is we want to make sure that low and moderate income households and communities of color all have an opportunity to take advantage of getting a cleaner car for their household or organization.”
Rachael Sakata, oregon department of environmenal quality
Electric vehicles are everywhere! And it’s no wonder, there are now more options than ever to electrify your ride – cars, trucks, motorcycles and bikes. And, they’re becoming more accessible than ever. DEQ’s Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program offers up to $7,500 when you purchase or lease an EV and the Oregon Department of Transportation is supporting the expansion of EV charging across the state.
