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A JOINT RESOLUTION AND PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING FOOD WASTE ACTION WEEK, MARCH 17-23, 2025, AND ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN FOOD WASTE REDUCTION EFFORTS IN THE CITY OF GAHANNA
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WHEREAS, nearly one million pounds of food waste is sent to the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill every day, resulting in significant loss of resources, economic waste, and environmental impact; and
WHEREAS, based on weight, food is the most common material entering the landfill, with each Central Ohio resident disposing of approximately 260 pounds of food annually-equivalent to 145 lost meals per person; and
WHEREAS, food waste also results in the loss of vital environmental resources, including soil, energy, and water, and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions as decomposing food releases methane, a potent contributor to climate change; and
WHEREAS, the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) and the Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative have convened over 150 regional partners to develop the Central Ohio Food Waste Action Plan, with a goal of reducing food waste by 50% by 2030; and
WHEREAS, Gahanna households can join this effort by taking simple steps to prevent food waste, such as shopping with a list, freezing food for later use, understanding date labels, and composting food scraps; and
WHEREAS, the City of Gahanna, through a grant from SWACO, has partnered with GoZERO Services to offer a free food waste composting drop-off program at Friendship Park, providing residents with an easy and effective way to divert organic waste from the landfill; and
WHEREAS, Food Waste Action Week, observed from March 17-23, serves as an opportunity to raise awareness, educate residents, and promote actionable steps that individuals, businesses, and institutions can take to reduce food waste and its associated impacts.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT JOINTLY RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL AND PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, COUNTY OF FRANKLIN, STATE OF OHIO:
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