Brass Tacks Initiative

🌱 The Cyclospora outbreak reminds us that food safety issues can quickly become food waste issues.

When outbreaks occur, and the source isn't immediately identified, large volumes of fresh produce are often discarded as a precaution. While protecting public health comes first, this can lead to significant food waste and increased landfill impact.

That's why sustainable disposal strategies matter. Composting, anaerobic digestion, and other landfill diversion solutions can help organizations manage affected products responsibly while reducing environmental impact.

Food safety and sustainability are often discussed separately, but events like this remind us they are deeply connected. Every improvement helps protect both public health and our food system's resources.🌎

Contact us or visit www.thebrasstacks.org to learn more about food waste prevention.

🌍🌿 Celebrate World Environment Day 🌿🌍

World Environment Day is a day to reflect on our impact and take meaningful steps toward a cleaner, healthier planet.

At The Brass Tacks Initiative, we’re dedicated to keeping food out of the landfill by partnering with businesses, schools, families, and individuals — but we need YOUR help to make the biggest impact!

Here are some practical ways to celebrate World Environment Day with us and make a real difference:
✅ Participate in a community clean-up to help beautify your local environment.
✅ Reduce waste by planning meals, composting scraps, and avoiding single-use plastics.
✅ Recycle properly to keep valuable materials out of landfills and conserve resources.

Together, small changes can lead to big results. Join us in turning awareness into action!

Learn more about how you can help at 👉 www.thebrasstacks.org

🌟 Join The Brass Tacks Initiative: Volunteer and Make a Difference! 🌟
Whether you're passionate about sustainability or simply want to give back and connect with others, The Brass Tacks Initiative offers rewarding volunteer opportunities where your time and talents can truly make an impact!

Here’s how you can get involved:
🔹 Education and Outreach Committee
Help us design and deliver engaging educational events that inspire communities to learn about sustainability. Time commitment: approximately 4-6 hours/month.
🔹 Marketing and Communications Committee
Boost our visibility through social media, crafting email campaigns, updating website content, and more. Time commitment: approximately 6-8 hours/month.
🔹 Development and Fundraising Committee
Help secure the future of BTI by leading fundraising efforts and building strong relationships with donors. Time commitment: approximately 4-6 hours/month.
🔹 Adopt a Highway Program
Participate in our biannual community clean-up along MN Highway 13 and help keep our waterways clean. Time commitment: about 4 hours per clean-up.

No matter your background or availability, there’s a place for you at BTI! Ready to make an impact? Learn more or sign up to volunteer at👉www.thebrasstacks.org/volunteer

Together, we can build a sustainable future! 💚

🌿 Key Takeaways from a Local Compost Facility Tour 🌿
Our Executive Director recently toured a local composting facility, gaining valuable insights into the ongoing challenges faced by composting programs.

One key issue that stood out was contamination. Despite clear guidelines, non-compostable items like glass, metal, and plastic often end up in compost bins. While metal and plastic can usually be removed from the final product, glass presents a serious safety hazard for employees and consumers alike. As a result, composting facilities may reject entire loads of organic waste if broken glass is detected.

This visit underscores the need for continued education and outreach to ensure communities understand what truly belongs in the compost bin. By working together to reduce contamination, we can improve composting efficiency, support a healthier environment.

We invite you to help spread awareness: share this post, talk to your community about proper composting, and join us in building a more sustainable future—one bin at a time! ♻️
www.thebrasstacks.org

This visit underscores the need for continued education and outreach to ensure communities understand what truly belongs in the compost bin. By working together to reduce contamination, we can improve composting efficiency and support a healthier environment.

🚨 Call for Webinars: Join Us in Food Waste Prevention Week 2026! 🚨
The Brass Tacks Initiative is proud to be a registered partner of Food Waste Prevention Week for the third consecutive year!

Last year, FWPW connected over 2,000 attendees across 31 engaging webinars. This September 28 – October 4, 2026, we’re gearing up to do it again — and we want YOU to be a part of it.

➡️ FWPW is seeking passionate webinar hosts and panelists who are ready to educate, inspire, and spark action in the fight against food waste.
Whether you work in:
Retail
Hospitality
Agriculture
Behavior Change
Policy
Technology..or are just actively tackling food waste, this is your platform to share expertise and drive change. Panel discussions are especially encouraged!

🔗 Expression of Interest is OPEN NOW! Link in comments.
🗓 Deadline: May 22, 2026

Join us in making FWPW 2026 the biggest and most impactful yet. Together, let’s turn the tables on food waste.

🌍🌱 Happy Earth Day from The Brass Tacks Initiative! 🌱🌍

At The Brass Tacks Initiative, we’re dedicated to supporting sustainable practices in the food stream through research, education, and collaboration. Together, we can keep food out of the landfill and reduce waste for a healthier planet.

This Earth Day, join us in making a difference by:

🌿 Educating yourself and others about food waste reduction — check out our education resources to get started.
🌿 Volunteering your time and skills to support our mission — we’d love your help!
🌿 Donating to help us continue our work promoting sustainability — your support matters.
🌿 Supporting sustainable businesses and schools in our community, working toward zero waste.

🌟 Plus, schools in Scott and LeSueur Counties can bring composting and sustainability lessons right into the classroom with our education kits!

Together, small actions create big change. Let’s take Earth Day beyond today and build a more sustainable future for all.

Learn more about us: www.thebrasstacks.org

🎉 Congratulations to Mrs. Choi, a 3rd and 4th-grade teacher at Prior Lake Christian Academy, for winning the Brass Tacks Initiative Education Kit giveaway!

When asked how the kit could benefit her class, Mrs. Choi shared, “I’m not sure many of my students understand what composting is. I believe it would be beneficial for them to learn some simple, practical ways to care for the Earth and become good stewards of the environment around them.”

We’re excited to support her efforts in bringing hands-on composting and food waste prevention lessons to her students! 🌍♻️