EPA Public Engagement Highlights for the Week of September 20, 2015
- EPA and USDA Set Goals to Reduce Wasted Food
- Pollution Prevention Starts at Home
- Register for Campus Rainworks by September 30
- National Public Lands Day is September 26
EPA and USDA Set Goals to Reduce Wasted Food
EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced the first-ever national food waste reduction goal, calling for a 50% reduction by 2030. As part of the effort, the federal government will lead a new partnership with charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, the private sector, and local, state and tribal governments to reduce food loss and waste in order to improve overall food security and conserve our nation’s natural resources.
Food loss and waste in the United States accounts for approximately 31%, or 133 billion pounds, of the overall food supply available to retailers and consumers and has far-reaching impacts on food security, resource conservation and climate change. Learn what you can do to reduce wasted food in your home.
Pollution Prevention Starts at Home
Find more actions you can take at home, at work, or at school.
September 20-26 is Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, and this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Pollution Prevention Act. When we reduce pollution, we save time and money on clean-up and control efforts, and we protect people’s health and our environment. Using safer products at home and making your home energy efficient are ways you can help prevent pollution.Read a blog post by EPA Assistant Administrator Jim Jones on what an ounce of prevention can do to protect your health and the environment.
Register for Campus Rainworks by September 30
Campus RainWorks Challenge, a green infrastructure design competition for undergraduate and graduate students. Green infrastructure weaves natural processes into the built environment, creating a more resilient and affordable system of stormwater management.
EPA is seeking entries for the annualStudent teams, working with a faculty advisor, will work to design an innovative, green stormwater management system that benefits their campuses. This year, teams will be encouraged to incorporate climate resiliency into their designs.