The Clallam County Waste Prevention Program and Washington State University (WSU) Jefferson/Clallam Extension are teaming up to inspire peninsula youths and young adults to battle food waste.

The “Shrink Food Waste Mountain” campaign, an e-learning opportunity for youth in collaboration with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, looks to offer residents of ages 5-25 a way to start making a positive difference, from small initiatives at home to more ambitious efforts that involve the larger community.

The program offers Food Matters Activity Kits loaded with informative resources and activities for youth and young adults to discover how to prevent food waste, from making Disco Soup, learning food preservation techniques from elders, to building worm composters and solar dehydrators.

This tri-lingual campaign is being piloted in three North American communities: Merida, Mexico; Montreal, Canada, and the Olympic Peninsula.

Those interested can register as an individual, group of friends, class, school or club. Participants can challenge others and earn great share-able Food Waste Hero badges, try curriculum in French or Spanish, and connect with youth across North America.

According to program organizers, food makes up 16 percent (about 780.000 tons) of Washington state’s overall waste stream, and half of that food (374,490 tons) is edible.

Learn more and register at www.cec.org/flwy or contact local program partners via extension.wsu.edu/clallam/waste-reduction-program/shrink-food-waste or 360-417-2441.