Vermont Recycling & Composting Initiative

10/16/2026

Learn more about where to get your bottles and containers redeemed at VTRecycles.com

10/15/2026

Leaves are banned from the trash in Vermont.

Instead:

If you have space, rake them to the edge of your yard or to a brush pile where they can decompose naturally.

Save them to use in your compost (dry leaves count as "browns" to help balance out the food scraps).

Bring them to a leaf and yard collection at a transfer station. Find your local options at www.802recycles.com.

10/14/2026

Halloween is just 2 weeks away and many local thrift stores are stocked up on decor and costumes, even inflatable ones. 👻

What’s most frightening about Halloween isn’t the ghosts or the ghouls, it’s the amount of waste we create while celebrating. Our actions, like choosing to purchase second hand items and donating quality costumes and decor, help reduce waste while still enjoying the holiday to its fullest. 🎃

What’s your favorite low waste Halloween costume or tradition? Tell us in the comments below ⬇️

10/13/2026

🎃 Nothing's scarier than good food gone bad, and one bad apple really can spoil the bunch!

If you have a bunch of fruit stored together (like in a big fruit bowl), check them all periodically to make sure none of them are starting to rot. 👻

🍎 If you have wrinkly or bruised apples that you don’t want to eat, you can still turn them into fantastic apple sauce! (or pie, crisp, muffins, etc.). Yum!

'tLetGoodFoodGoBad See less

10/06/2026

Valley has learned how to recycle in Vermont 🐶

She’s such a good pup. Every time she recycles correctly, she gets a treat.

She learned how to recycle by visiting VTrecycles.com. Check it out, you may learn something new too!

10/05/2026

Join the Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc. in their October Food Donation Drive! Find your nearest food shelf to learn more about what they are accepting for donations here: www.vtfoodbank.org/access-food/find-a-food-shelf/

Concern for community - that's one of the Seven Cooperative Principles! Let's all pitch in to help our neighbors by supporting our local food shelves in October, which is National Co-op Month. If you make a donation, take a photo at drop off and post it in the comments below, or email us photos and we'll do the rest. Let's get some serious momentum going with some cool pix and big donations!

10/01/2026

🥦 Don’t toss it—get creative with it! 💚
It’s Food Waste Prevention Week, and we’re here to give your produce a little more love before it hits the compost bucket.

Think that broccoli stem is just waste? Think again! Peel it, slice it up, and toss it into a stir-fry, soup, or roast it right alongside the florets. It’s crunchy, tasty, and totally edible!

🍎 Got a bruised apple or peach? No need to say goodbye to the whole thing. Simply cut around the soft spot and enjoy the rest.

🥕 Carrot tops, broccoli stems, fruit that’s seen better days… there’s often more good food there than we realize.

A few small changes—cutting carefully, using the edible parts, and giving imperfect produce a chance—can help stretch your grocery budget and keep perfectly good food out of the trash.

More of what you buy. Less of what you waste. And a little more money staying in your pocket. 🙌

09/30/2026

🥑 Your food deserves a plan!

Look at this avocado. It’s been sitting on the counter, waiting patiently ever since it came home from the grocery store to become guacamole or something delicious… and now it’s wondering if anyone even cares. 😢

Don’t let good food get sad. Have a plan, use it up, and keep that good food happy! Not only does this reduce wasted food, but it helps save you money. 💲💚

Its not too late to sign up for the Vermont Scrap Food Waste Challenge! We will send participants daily tips, tricks, and reminders to help you make a plan for your food, and stick to it! Learn more at ScrapFoodWaste.org.

09/29/2026

It's Food Waste Prevention Week, and Rhonda, Joey, and Gabriella from CSWD have some useful tips to share to help you get the most out of your food!💰

🫚Did you know that storing ginger in water can help it last for weeks? I didn't know that before Rhonda taught me!
🥩Joey reminds us that you can make food, including meat, last far beyond its best by date by storing it in the freezer.
🥒And Gabriella shares a de-li-cious looking recipe for easy pickles. Food preservation doesn't need to be difficult or time consuming in order to be tasty!

What food storage tips do you use at home? Share in the comments below. ⬇️

It's not too late to join the Vermont Scrap Food Waste Challenge! Sign up for daily tips, tricks, and recipes to help you save money by wasting less food. Learn more at ScrapFoodWaste.org.