"South Carolina is positioned to be a leader in tackling the complex environmental and health challenges of food waste," said Catherine Heigel, Director of DHEC. "The Don't Waste Food S.C. campaign is building awareness and partnerships to help our state make a collective impact on this 607,000-ton issue. Working together, we can reduce the amount of food being added to our landfills and connect food resources with communities in need."

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley proclaimed July 13, 2016 as "Don't Waste Food S.C. Day" as the state agencies launched the initiative and invited all South Carolinians to join the effort. The campaign has already gained momentum with early involvement from several private stakeholder partners, including Harvest Hope Food Bank, Re-Soil and Loaves & Fishes.

"Composting is not only important for South Carolina's environmental health, it also has the potential to become a significant driver of our economy," said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.