Jane Polson, the Executive Director of Keep Nebraska Beautiful, was the featured program at the recent Seward Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at noon at the Jones National Bank and Trust Auditorium in Seward. A luncheon, fellowship and business meeting preceded the presentation. The program featured Jane Polson, with a power point presentation on ”A Vision for Reducing Food Waste!”
Jane Polson, the Executive Director of Keep Nebraska Beautiful, was the featured program at the recent Seward Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at noon at the Jones National Bank and Trust Auditorium in Seward. A luncheon, fellowship and business meeting preceded the presentation. The program featured Jane Polson, with a power point presentation on ”A Vision for Reducing Food Waste!”
The Mission of KNB is to “Inspire Nebraskan’s to take actions that improve and beautify our communities. The Vision of KNB is “Nebraska, where every community is a clean, green beautiful place to live.”
Polson shared the mission of the Keep Nebraska Beautiful, a non-profit public service organization dedicated to providing education to all Nebraskan’s on goals at ending littering, increase recycling, and beautifying local communities. KNB is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful with 21 local affiliate programs across the state. KNB was established in 1964 by Governor Frank Morrison, with early efforts focused on litter prevention and beautification throughout the state.
KNB programs include Environmental Education, School Chemical Cleanout Campaigns, Litter-Free School Zones, The Great American Clean-up, Litter Hotline, Used Oil Collection Program, Material Exchange Program, Household Hazardous Waste Program, the KNB Conference and Environmental Awards program, the KAB Affiliate Network, Grow Big Red Program and the Food Waste Program.
Jane spoke directly on the Food Waste Program and noted that globally, 40% of all food is wasted, with in the US, this amounts to nearly 400 pounds of food per person per year! Food Waste is 21% of the waste stream entering landfills today. Today, a family of four wastes about 125 pound of food a month and the US spends over $218 Billion to dispose of food not eaten.
She pointed out that food waste consumes our resources-21% of all fresh water, 18% of cropland, 19% of fertilizer and 21% of landfill volume. The goal is to reduce food waste by 50% by the year 2030.
She presented a visual survey, question and answer period, on Food Labeling and spoke on the waste due to the misconceptions about labeling and dated food. “The date means that this is when the food is at the peak of freshness!” according to Jane Polson. She shared the site savethefood.com for more information on food safety and education on how we can all make a difference in food waste.
You can contact Polson at KNB 3201 Pioneers Blvd., Suite 118, Lincoln, Ne 68502 or email them at jpolsonknb@gmail.com or visit the KNB website at www.knb.org or call 402-486-4562.
She complimented the Seward Rotary Club on their various environmental projects, beautification projects and especially their longtime dedication and volunteerism at the local recycling center. The Seward Rotary Club was recently recognized at the KNB Environmental Awards luncheon for their volunteer efforts for Seward’s environmental programs.
Photo: Keep Nebraska Executive Director, Jane Polson, Center, congratulates the local Rotarians that lead the recycling effort for the club at the Seward Recycling Center. The Seward Rotary Club is one of the longtime, faithful volunteer groups to assist on Saturday mornings at the Seward Recycling Center and was recently recognized at the Keep Nebraska Beautiful Awards Luncheon in Nebraska City. LR Rotary President Todd LaVelle, Rotarian Bill Hartmann, Polson, Rotarians Roger Glawatz and Jon Kruse.