Radon Action Month
January is Radon Action Month in Tennessee and testing your home is easy and free. Although many people have never heard of radon, according to the EPA it is the second leading cause of lung cancer and might be present in your home.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It is invisible, odorless, and tasteless, and cannot be identified in your home without specific testing. Exposure to this known carcinogen is responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths every year due to radon induced lung cancer. Many people live with high exposure levels for years without knowing. Radon, like smoking, carries higher risks with longer exposure.
There is an easy way to find out if radon is elevated in your home - you can request a free test from the TN Department of Environment and Conservation. To request a test kit, visit the website or call 1-800-232-1139. The kit comes with detailed instructions and even includes paid postage to send the kit to the lab to be analyzed. It is important to know your radon levels by testing your home, as high levels of radon have been found in every county in Tennessee.
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Check out this video for instructions for completing your in-home radon test.
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Big holiday meals with family and friends are notorious for producing leftovers. While some embrace leftovers and enjoy the convenience of eating something already prepared, others struggle to use all this food. On average, a family of four wastes 25% of the food and beverages they buy, which translates into approximately $1,500 a year! Want to make a difference for the environment, while also saving money? Make a new year's resolution to reduce food waste in 2020! Strategies to reduce food waste can be as simple as planning your meals, shopping smarter, and embracing and recreating leftover food.
Through our Get Food Smart TN program, we provide tips on reducing food waste in your home. You can even take a pledge to commit to reducing food waste! Visit our website today for more information!
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| TGSP Member Highlight
Bates Rubber, Inc., recycles over 95% of their scrap plastic that comes from the trimming process. Up to 20% of that recycled plastic can then be reintroduced back into the products.
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Tennessee State University’s Massie Chair of Excellence is partnering with TN Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and Metro Nashville Public Works (MNPW) to take on a recycling improvement project in the Bordeaux community. MNPW offers free curbside recycling for all residences in the community, but has identified several areas where the recycling participation rate is less than 40%. This partnership seeks to increase residential recycling participation by raising awareness through education. This project will engage TSU students who will be responsible for going door-to-door to educate residents about recycling services, including what materials can be recycled, pick-up schedules, and how to participate. These students can even assist residents with signing up for services. This collaboration has the potential to increase recycling rates for the community and serve as an educational opportunity for the university and its students. If your community, Higher Education Institution, or organization would like to participate in a sustainability partnership project, please contact Brook Powell with TDEC’s Higher Education Sustainability Initiative at brook.powell@tn.gov.
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| Leading by Example
Despite current challenges in the Tennessee recycling marketplace, TN State Parks (TSP) continue to set a leading example through their recycling and waste reduction initiative. TSP’s Go Green With Us program makes it easy for park guests to recycle and reduce their waste. Statewide, over 589 tons of material were diverted from landfills in 2019 due to the efforts of state parks staff. Many counties are currently little-to-no recyclables, so TSP staff has worked hard to ensure that there are no service disruptions at parks.
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Check out these great recipes, which use leftover ham for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
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Application Due: February 20, 2020
Applications Due: March 31, 2020
Conferences/Workshops/Training Opportunities
January 13, 2020
January 21-23, 2020
January 28-31, 2020
January 30, 2020
February 17-19, 2020
March 15-18, 2020
March 18-19, 2020
March 30-April 2, 2020
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