Earth Day is Friday, and it’s a gentle annual reminder to keep in mind Mother Nature.

We always hear the usual suggestions of recycling, throwing your trash in the garbage can instead of on the road and turning your thermostat to where you use less energy when not at home.

But there’s another recommendation for Earth Day and every day coming from the USDA.

The organization wants residents to reduce food waste and prevent foodborne illnesses.

USDA estimates that 133 billion pounds of food goes uneaten each year, which is a loss of $161 billion in retail dollars. A lot of that is because something has gone bad in the cooking or storing process.

Use Earth Day to ensure your fridge is working properly, your oven is clean and check out ways to date your food when you bring it home so you know when it needs to be eaten or head for the freezer.

Consider using phone apps that help you learn more about keeping food safe, and do your best to only buy what you need. If more people are accountable with what’s in the fridge and pantry, that’s money and natural resources saved for all.