WHEREAS, the Solid Waste Authority of Broward County (SWA) was created to advance a long-term, environmentally sustainable, innovative, and economically efficient approach to reducing, reusing, recycling, and responsibly managing the waste generated in Broward County; and
WHEREAS, in Broward County we are creating approximately 20,000 pounds of waste per minute and the in-County landfill and waste-to-energy facility have finite capacity; and
WHEREAS, preventing waste before it is created is one of the most effective ways residents, businesses, schools, nonprofits, and local governments can conserve resources, reduce disposal needs, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient solid waste system; and WHEREAS, an estimated one-third of all food in the United States goes uneaten, representing a significant opportunity to prevent waste and put valuable food and resources to better use; and
WHEREAS, when food is wasted, the resources used to produce, process, distribute, purchase, store, and prepare that food are wasted as well, making food waste prevention both an environmental and an economic priority; and
WHEREAS, food waste comprises approximately 15 to 20 percent of municipal solid waste disposed of at the in-County landfill, and because food decomposes rapidly under anaerobic landfill conditions, it is a significant source of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas; and
WHEREAS, preventing food waste begins with simple actions including planning meals, making grocery lists, inventorying existing supplies, properly storing food, and purchasing only what is needed; and
WHEREAS, edible food that cannot be prevented from becoming surplus can be redirected for donation and other beneficial uses, while food scraps and other organics that cannot be consumed may have opportunities for composting or other forms of resource recovery; and
WHEREAS, preventing and diverting food waste helps conserve the finite capacity of Broward County’s existing solid waste infrastructure for materials that cannot otherwise be prevented, reused, recycled, or recovered; and
WHEREAS, the SWA is working toward a more circular economy in which valuable materials are prevented from becoming waste whenever possible and are kept in productive use rather than disposed of; and
WHEREAS, Food Waste Prevention Week 2026 provides an opportunity for the Broward County community to recognize that small choices, multiplied across two million residents and thousands of businesses and institutions, can help waste less, conserve resources, reduce environmental impacts, and preserve critical disposal capacity;
NOW, THEREFORE, the SWA hereby recognizes Food Waste Prevention Week 2026, September 28 to October 4, 2026, and encourages residents, businesses, schools, nonprofits, municipalities, and community partners throughout Broward County to take practical steps to prevent food waste.
By working together to waste less, we can conserve valuable resources and finite disposal capacity, strengthen our circular economy, protect our environment, and build a more economically sustainable solid waste system for Broward County.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Solid Waste Authority of Broward County has caused this proclamation to be presented in recognition of Food Waste Prevention Week 2026 this 18 day of September 2026.
Click here to view the signed Proclamation BSWA-Proclamation-Food-Waste-Prevention-Week-2026