“Working together with residents and restaurants, we can divert more food scraps from the landfill into backyard and larger-scale composting endeavors. By doing this, we reduce the amount of methane created in landfills and reduce our city’s contribution to climate change,” Melnik said.
Knoxville residents are invited to learn more about food waste at the Bread-to-Tap Food Waste Awareness event from 12-4 p.m. Saturday at Crafty Bastard Brewery, 6 Emory Place.
The family-friendly event includes a food drive for Ladies of Charity, composting workshops, a food-waste dropoff, and resources to help residents reduce their food waste contributions to the landfill.
Event attendees who donate at least five qualifying items to Ladies of Charity will receive $2 off a specialty craft beer Crafty has brewed with recovered bread donated by Paysan Bread.
Dr. Chad Hellwinckel will teach two backyard composting workshops at noon and 1 p.m. The cost is $20 and workshop participants get to take home a city tumbler composter.
Representatives from the following organizations will be on hand to share resources and answer questions: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation; Knox Green Drinks; Real Good Kitchen; Green Heron; Keep Knoxville Beautiful; and Beardsley Farm.
Tennessee Food Waste Awareness Week brings together food-waste experts to highlight the many issues surrounding food waste and to inspire people to take action to reduce food waste and increase food recovery and diversion in Tennessee.
Get more information about the Knoxville Compost Pilot Program from Knoxville Waste and Resource Management services.