We’re giving away 8 sets of Pyrex containers to help residents of New Bedford and Dartmouth store and easily use leftover food!
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (March 31, 2025) – The Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District is proud to support Food Waste Prevention Week 2025! Food Waste Prevention Week, April 7-13, 2025, is a campaign to raise awareness and inspire everyone to reduce food waste at home, at work, and in our communities.
Enter for a Chance to Win a Set of Glass Food Storage Containers!
As part of this week, New Bedford and Dartmouth residents can enter to win a set of three glass Pyrex containers with lids to store and easily use leftover food! Four New Bedford residents and four Dartmouth residents will be randomly selected. To enter, complete this form https://forms.gle/L58p5j8G6uxjyZLG6 by April 11, 2025, at midnight. Also, visit the Refuse District website gnbrrmdistrict.org to access the entry form. Entrants must provide their name, city/town, email, and phone number so that we may contact the winners. Must be at least 18 years old to participate. When prizes are picked up, each winner will need to show proof of residency. The giveaway items are paid for by the Refuse District.
New Books about Food Waste at the Libraries!
Learn tips about saving food and saving money with books about food waste prevention now found at New Bedford and Dartmouth libraries! The Refuse District gave the Main Library in New Bedford and Southworth Library in Dartmouth books to help residents reduce food waste. Four books are for adults and three are for children. Be one of the first to check them out! The titles are: “Wasteful Sam,” “Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook,” “Too Good to Waste,” “Perfectly Good Food,” “Love Your Leftovers,” “Fridge-opolis,” and “Plant You: Scrappy Cooking.”
Why Does Reducing Food Waste Matter?
Up to thirty-five percent of all food produced goes uneaten. Ending food loss and waste requires purposeful action.
- Saves money – The average family of four spends $3,000 per year on food that does not get eaten.
- Saves space in our local landfill – It’s estimated that food waste makes up around 20% of the trash disposed of at the Crapo Hill landfill.
- Conserves resources – Land, water, energy, and human resources are used to grow, package and transport food.
- Improves food security – Safe and nutritious food that is currently thrown away could help feed hungry people.
Tips for reducing food waste:
- Avoid buying too much food – take inventory, list what you need, stick to the list.
- Learn optimal ways to store foods, like keeping potatoes out of light and away from onions. Visit savethefood.com/storage for helpful food storage tips.
- Eat perishable foods like strawberries as soon as possible.
- Follow USDA guidelines for freezing and thawing foods.
- Follow USDA guidelines for refrigerating foods and safely enjoy leftovers!
Find additional tips for preventing food waste on the Refuse District’s social media during Food Waste Prevention Week. Visit New Bedford Recycling or Dartmouth Recycling on Facebook, visit New Bedford Recycling or Dartmouth Recycling on Nextdoor, and follow New Bedford Recycling on Instagram.
“The Refuse District is committed to reducing food waste because we know there are better and more sustainable options readily available than sending it to a landfill,” said Anthony Novelli, Executive Director. “Food waste makes up approximately 20% of the waste stream coming to the Crapo Hill landfill, and our team is consistently working with staff from both the City of New Bedford and the Town of Dartmouth (our member communities) to offer a variety of resources and options for minimizing the amount of wasted food. Composting helps turn eggshells, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable scraps, and other food waste into valuable soil and keeps them out of the landfill. Please check out our website for more information. Every little bit helps and everyone’s daily choices to prevent food waste can make a significant long-term impact. Reach out to us if you have ideas or want to get involved!”
For more information on Food Waste Prevention Week please visit foodwastepreventionweek.com.
For questions about the giveaway, visit gnbrrmdistrict.org or contact the Refuse District by calling (508) 979-1493, emailing Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org or texting (774) 503-0254.
Photo caption, photo on left (one person): Dina St. Pierre, Director of Libraries, Town of Dartmouth, is pictured with food waste reduction books.
Photo caption, photo on right (2 people): Olivia Melo, Director of Library Services, and Amy Ferguson, Reference and ILL Librarian, City of New Bedford, are pictured with food waste reduction books.