1. Plan your meals
Before you head to the store, plan your meals for the week so you buy only what you need. It is the single easiest way to keep food from going to waste.
Tip: Make a shopping list and stick to it.
2. Store food properly
Good storage keeps food fresh longer. Learn how to store different produce, meats, and dairy so nothing spoils early.
Tip: Use airtight containers for leftovers and label them with dates.
3. Understand expiration dates
"Best by" and "use by" dates can be misleading. Food is often still safe well past those dates if it has been stored correctly.
Tip: Trust your senses. If it looks, smells, and tastes fine, it probably is.
4. Use leftovers creatively
Leftovers do not have to be boring. Turn yesterday's roast chicken into today's chicken salad, or build a "clean out the fridge" stir fry.
Tip: Search for recipes that are built around leftovers.
5. Compost your food waste
When waste is unavoidable, composting is the best way to recycle it. If you are in New Jersey, sign up for our free composting service to turn your scraps into a resource instead of landfill methane.
Tip: Start a small bin at home, or let Torus handle pickup. Here is what you can compost.
6. Buy local and seasonal
Support New Jersey farmers by buying local and seasonal produce. It travels less, lasts longer, and tastes better.
Tip: Visit a local farmers market for fresh, seasonal picks.
7. Freeze excess food
If you cooked too much or bought more than you can use, freezing preserves it for later.
Tip: Label and date items before they go in the freezer.
8. Practice portion control
Serve smaller portions so less ends up scraped into the trash. You can always go back for seconds.
Tip: Use smaller plates to keep portions in check.
9. Share the surplus
If you have more food than you can use, donate it to a local food bank or share it with neighbors.
Tip: Organize a food-sharing swap in your community.
10. Educate yourself and others
The more people who understand the impact of food waste, the bigger the difference we can make together. Read more about the problem and share what you learn.
Tip: Follow us on Instagram for more tips and updates.
The bottom line
Reducing food waste is good for the planet and good for your wallet. Follow these habits and you will help make New Jersey a more sustainable place to live. And when scraps do pile up, sign up for free composting and let Torus take it from there. Thank you for doing your part.