Don’t Waste Food SC: Donation
One in eight South Carolinians – including one in six children – are food insecure, according to Feeding America. Donation of wholesome, nonperishable food items is an integral part of feeding those in need., Anyone can donate food. Individuals can donate nonperishable items to food banks. Farmers, manufacturers, grocery stores, restaurants, and other food-producing establishments can donate produce and prepared food to rescue organizations., All, food safety requirements, must be followed when donating food., What can be donated to food banks?, Food banks accept dry and canned food donations – basically any food that is shelf-stable or nonperishable. Specifically, food banks often need these items: Apple sauce Beans (dried, and in one-pound bags) Canned fruit and vegetables Canned chicken and tuna Cereal (particularly those low in sugar and high in fiber) Instant mashed potatoes Macaroni and cheese Pasta (one-pound boxes) Peanut butter…, Always check with your local food bank to see what is accepted and needed as well as food date and safety requirements before donation., What cannot be donated to food banks?, Items needing refrigeration Leftovers Food with damaged packaging Baked goods Home canned or jarred products Cans without labels (donations must be made in their original packaging), Where can I donate food?, Feeding the Carolinas provides a food bank finder., Am I protected when I donate food?, The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects donors from civil and criminal liability should the item(s) donated in good faith later cause harm to the recipient. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides additional information on the federal legislation . In addition, South Carolina law provides similar liability protection for food donors through S.C. Code of Laws §§ 15-74-10 et…, Are there any tax incentives?, The Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic along with the University of Arkansas Food Recovery Project provide a tax donation for food donation legal guide for companies.Don't Waste Food SC: Food Retailers & Manufacturers
Quick tips to reduce wasted food for food retailers & manufacturers:, Download , SCDES's Smart Businesses Don't Waste Food Guide ., Conduct a waste audit. , Determine what you waste and how much it's costing your business., Partner with local farmers. , Meet with a local farmer to plan your produce availability around what is in season., Love ugly fruits & veggies, . Stores don’t have a requirement to only purchase perfect produce. Help reduce waste by using odd-looking fruit and veg for value added items, or encourage your customers to stop rejecting those that look different., Keep an accurate inventory., Use the FIFO method: first in, first out. Upgrade your inventory system to help manage the process., Be creative. , Use overstocked items for cooking demos and tastings., Donate. , Instead of tossing extra produce, canned goods, or prepared but unserved food, develop relationships with local food banks and shelters. Feeding the Carolinas can help you find neighboring agencies. Feeding the Carolinas Foodbanks , SCDES supports and encourages donation. , Is it legal for retailers and manufacturers to donate? YES!, Include customers., Make sure consumers know what your business is doing to reduce food waste and encourage them to help., Compost. , Find a compost hauler/vendor or community garden. Find vendors via the SC Recycling Markets Directory ., Benefits: , Potential cost savings. Feeding people, not landfills. An opportunity to enhance reputation with guests, staff, and investors. Increased job satisfaction through employee engagement in the program., Other Resources:, SCDES's , S.C. Smart Business Recycling Program, , provides free, confidential technical assistance for recycling and food waste reduction. The S.C. Department of Agriculture offers information about Retail Food Safety and Compliance . The Food Waste Reduction Alliance is an industry-led initiative focused on reducing wasted food by increasing donation and diverting unavoidable food waste from landfills through productive use (e.g., composting…Don't Waste Holiday Food
During the holiday season, many of us attend holiday parties with friends and family. Part of this is enjoying tasty dishes that we only indulge in once a year. It's all too easy to waste food when our eating routines are all over the place. While it's not the first waste-related issue that comes to mind, the waste problem can be significant!Don’t Waste Food SC: Households
Food is the No.1 item Americans throw away., Most food waste – about 43 percent nationwide – is created at home. Preventing wasted food at home saves money, conserves resources, reduces waste, and can help feed those in need in your community. Download: A Guide for Reducing Food Waste at Home, Ten Easy Actions to Reduce Food Waste at Home, Plan meals for the week. Make a list of what you need. Meal Prep Mate Fillable Weekly Meal Planner - PDF Shop your pantry and refrigerator before going to the grocery store. Once you’re there, stick to the list. Printable Shopping List - PDF Practice FIFO or “First In, First Out.” When returning home from the grocery store, place the newer items behind the older items. This food storage method…Don't Waste Food SC: Resources
SCDES's Quick Guides to Download, General Information, Ambassador Applications, Individual/Household Ambassador Application Community Leaders Ambassador Application, Toolkit Resources, Ambassador Toolkit Ambassador Application South Carolina Produce Availability Chart Giuseppe Arcimboldo Inspired Activity "Eat Me First" Sticker Download Guess That Food! Emoji Game Food Safety Presentation Life of a Strawberry Video , Prevention, DWFSC: A Guide for Reducing Food Waste at Home DWFSC Food Waste Diary Reducing Food Waste: A Guide for K-12 Schools Quick Tips for Reducing Food Waste at Home and Understanding Product Date Labeling Weekly Meal Planning Calendar Simple Storage for Fresh Produce Print a Shopping List Spring Berry Freezer Jam Recipe Card Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe Card, Donation, SCDES Supports and Encourages Donation Quick Reference Guide for Schools: Share Tables and Donation, Composting, Composting: Recycling Naturally - Simple Steps for Starting at Home Composting: A Guide for SC K-12 Schools, Food Donation Liability Guidance, The Federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act was passed to encourage companies and organizations to donate food and groceries to non-profits for distribution to individuals in need. The legislation: Protects donors from civil and criminal liability when donating product in good faith to a non-profit organization, should the product later cause harm to the recipient. Questions about…, S.C. Code of Laws §§ 15-74-10 et seq, . According to the law, "the donor, in good faith, of distressed food apparently fit for human consumption, to a bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization or food bank or prepared and perishable food program for free distribution, is not subject to criminal penalty or civil damages arising from the condition of the food or the nature or condition of the land entered, unless an injury is…, National Food Waste Reduction Resources:, EPA Sustainable Management of Food Save The Food Natural Resources Defense Council: Agriculture and Food ReFED: Rethink Food Waste Feeding America World Wildlife Fund: Food Initiative Food Waste Reduction AllianceDon't Waste Food SC: Restaurants & Hospitality
The U.S. restaurant industry generates about 11.4 million tons of wasted food annually at a cost of roughly $25 billion every year. For every $1 invested in food waste reduction efforts, restaurants can realize about $8 of cost savings., Quick tips to prevent & reduce food waste in restaurants/hospitality:, Download, SCDES's Smart Businesses Don't Waste Food Guide ., Conduct a waste audit. , Determine what you waste and how much it's costing your business., Crop Planning. , Meet with a local farmer to plan your menu around what is in season or available., Buy ugly., Restaurants don’t have a requirement to only purchase perfect produce. Help reduce waste by using odd-looking fruit and veg for value added items, or encourage your customers to stop rejecting those that look different., Use FIFO. , First in, first out., Be creative with kitchen excess., Create new dishes out of repurposed ingredients like broths, stocks, and soups. Use unusual parts of produce like squash blossoms and stems., Donate. , Instead of tossing extra produce, canned goods, or prepared but unserved food, develop relationships with local food banks and shelters. Feeding the Carolinas can help you find neighboring agencies. Feeding the Carolinas Foodbanks , SCDES supports and encourages donation., Is it legal for restaurants and other businesses to donate? YES!, Compost. , Find a compost hauler/vendor or community garden. Find vendors via the SC Recycling Markets Directory ., Benefits: , Potential cost savings. Feeding people, not landfills. An opportunity to enhance reputation with guests, staff, and investors. A study by Unilever revealed that 72 percent of American diners care about how restaurants handle food waste and 47 percent would be willing to spend more to eat at a restaurant with an active food recovery program. Increased job satisfaction through employee engagement…, Other Resources:, SCDES's S.C. Smart Business Recycling Program provides free, confidential technical assistance for recycling and food waste reduction. The S.C. Department of Agriculture offers information about Retail Food Safety and Compliance . ReFed's Restaurant Food Waste Action Guide provides restaurants with measurement and tracking tools, best management practices and more to help prevent wasted food,…Don't Waste Food SC: Schools, Colleges & Universities
Schools generate waste. Lots of it. In fact, SCDES conducted a study to determine the amount and composition of waste that schools generate. The report showed: Schools create – at a minimum – nearly 400,000 pounds of waste every day; Unwanted food is the No. 1 or No. 2 component of a school’s waste stream; and The majority of waste generated at schools could be recovered through prevention,…, Quick tips to prevent & reduce food waste in K-12 schools, Download:, , Reducing Food Waste - A Guide for South Carolina Schools, Measure it., Conduct a food waste audit in your school, then develop and implement appropriate reduction strategies. Have students help. , Guide to Conducting Student Food Waste Audits, Participate in, Smarter Lunchrooms, ., Smarter Lunchrooms is a nationwide movement encouraging students to select and eat the healthiest food. When kids are taught to eat more fruits and vegetables, it leads to healthier eating and less food waste., Use, Offer versus Serve, (OVS, ). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends the OVS strategy, giving students the flexibility to make healthy choices and to decline some of the food offered while assuring the meal is still reimbursable., Set up a, Share Table, . , Students place specific food and beverage items that they choose not to consume on a designated table or cart. This provides an opportunity for other students to take the items at no cost. This strategy,, encouraged by USDA, , helps feed hungry children and prevent wasted food., Donate., No matter how many waste reduction practices are in place, there will still be uneaten food. Since 2012, , USDA has encouraged, food directors to redistribute unopened milk, bags of carrots, whole fruit and other items to community members (often within the school) in need., Compost., Set up a small composting program or school-wide program with an outside vendor., , Composting Guide for Schools, Quick tips to reduce food waste in colleges/universities:, Measure it., Talk with your food service vendor. Conduct a food waste audit or "weigh the waste" event. Have students help develop and implement appropriate reduction strategies in coordination with food services., Reduce plate waste., Work with your food service vendor to shift to trayless dining, smaller plates, and reusable take-out containers., Donate., Start a volunteer food pantry for students - shelf stable items are a good starting point. Donate other items to a local food bank or shelter. Is it legal for a college/university to donate food? YES!, Compost., Contract with a commercial composting vendor or work with facilities/sustainability staff to start an on-site program. , Benefits: , Feeding people, not landfills. Life-long lessons for students. Potential cost savings. Provide quality compost for your school garden. , Other Resources: , Take Action SC: Environmental Education Partnership RecycleU: College/University Recycling SC Department of Education's Office of Health and Nutrition No Kid Hungry SCCounty Responsibilities
County Responsibilities for Waste Tire Management, The, S.C. Solid Waste Policy and Management Act of 1991, requires county governments to manage waste tires. Counties are encouraged to work cooperatively with cities to manage waste tires collected from residents. The Act designates funding to meet these requirements., Funding, For each tire sold in South Carolina, the S.C. Department of Revenue (DOR) provides a portion of the $2 waste tire fee to each county based upon population. The funds must be used for collecting, processing or recycling of waste tires. Counties also may receive Waste Tire Grant Funding from SCDES provided their waste tire management funds allocated by DOR are exhausted. Grant funding is made…, grant application information, ., Local governments may charge tipping fees for tires on which the fee has not been paid., Counties are prohibited from imposing an additional fee on waste tires generated within their jurisdiction. Counties, however, may charge tipping fees on the following tires: heavy equipment tires from farming, logging and mining operations; tires generated outside of South Carolina; fleet tires on which there is no documentation that a fee has been paid; and unsold tires manufactured in South…, Collection Policy, Counties are encouraged to implement tire collection policies that encourage the delivery of waste tires to a county collection site or to an approved recycler. The policies should address fees and waivers for waste tires accepted from residents, retailers of new tires, used tire dealers and automobile dismantlers., Management of illegally dumped or stockpiled waste tires, Each county is required by the Act to participate in ongoing waste tire cleanup enforcement efforts. Counties should contact the local DHEC office when they identify illegally dumped or stockpiled waste tires and engage local code enforcement authorities to ensure responsible parties are held accountable. To, file a pollution complaint, , contact your, local SCDES office, . PalmettoPride provides contact information for local litter enforcement offices. Visit, www.palmettopride.org, and click on Select Your County on the bar at the top of the page. DHEC grant funding can be requested by local governments after appropriate compliance and enforcement efforts have been completed or as dictated by public health risks.Bureau of Air Quality Regulations Update Status
R.61-62: Air Pollution Control Regulations and Standards, The Department proposes amending, R.61-62, Air Pollution Control Regulations and Standards, and the South Carolina Air Quality Implementation Plan (State Implementation Plan or SIP). Amendments are to be made to R.61-62.60, South Carolina Designated Facility Plan and New Source Performance Standards; and R.61-62.63, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Source Categories; to incorporate federal amendments promulgated from January 1, 2020, through December…, Mary Peyton Wall, , Manager, 803-898-4064Macroinvertebrates
Aquatic macroinvertebrates are insects and other invertebrates that live in streams, rivers, lakes, and other waterbodies. Aquatic macroinvertebrate communities are affected by fluctuating environmental conditions and so can be particularly useful indicators of water quality as they respond to integrated stresses over time. The response of the macroinvertebrate community to various pollutants (e.…, Macroinvertebrate 2 , What does the monitoring data show?, Ambient macroinvertebrate monitoring data shows the biological condition of waters of the State. The ASP uses this data to support a variety of state and federal programs. Additionally, special macroinvertebrate studies are conducted at various sites to evaluate specific potential point and non-point source pollution impacts., How to find out more!, Most Recent Water Quality Scores Macroinvertebrate Community Monitoring Sites and Years Sampled Standard Operating Procedures (can be consulted for the details of our sampling and analysis methodology) Recent Developments in the Macroinvertebrate Water Quality Monitoring Program More extensive and/or older data may also be available and can be requested from ASP. Requested data may include…, Contact, Questions about macroinvertebrates can be directed to David Eargle at: 803-898-4145 David.Eargle@des.sc.gov