Long Beach Recycles

According to the EPA, preventing food from going to waste is one of the easiest and most powerful actions you can take to save money and lower your carbon footprint. It is important to begin by adding in small, powerful actions to your daily routine, establishing these actions as habits, and sharing out tips and resources with friends and family.

Establish an "Eat This First" section in your refrigerator to use up what you have

By organizing items in your fridge to emphasize what needs to be eaten soon, you can easily create and plan meals around what you already have and save money by not letting anything go to waste!

Here's how:

• Delegate a section of your refrigerator to items that need to be eaten first, label it, and educate members of your household on its purpose
• On a weekly basis, dedicate time to clean out, organize, and take inventory of your fridge
• Cook a "use-it-up" meal before grocery shopping with the items in the "eat this first" section

Print your own "Eat This First" sign to place inside of your refrigerator or pantry. Available in Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog. 

Properly store produce to maintain freshness and make groceries last longer

Storing fruits and vegetables properly can make a huge difference in how long they last, and as a result, reduces waste and saves you trips to the grocery store. 

Print your own Produce Storage Guide to place on your refrigerator to remind household members how to properly store produce. Available in Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog. 

Find more tips on how to store produce and other food items properly, visit Stop Food Waste. 

Other impactful ways to reduce food waste:

• Plan menus for the week and make a shopping list
• Purchase "ugly" fruits and vegetables that often get left behind at the grocery store 
• Learn about food product dating – Many consumers misunderstand the purpose and meaning of the date labels that often appear on packaged foods. Confusion over date labeling accounts for an estimated 20 percent of consumer food waste.
• Freeze ripe fruits and vegetables for baking, cooking, and filling in gaps for recipes
• Share leftovers with friends, family, and neighbors
• If you have more food on hand than you can use or you need, consider donating your extra food to a local food recovery organization