Food Waste in Australia

Globally, one third of all food produced is either lost or wasted.

Why is it important to minimise food waste?

  • Improve our nutrition! Fruit and vegetables are the food groups most commonly wasted, so minimising waste can have significant improvements on health.

  • Value and preserve environmental resources (land, water, energy) that are required to produce the food we buy

  • Minimise greenhouse gas emissions: food waste (if it goes to landfill) produces methane, which is a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide in contributing to climate change.

  • Save money! The average Australian spends a staggering $2200 on food that ends up wasted at home, so minimising our waste could do wonders for the bank balance!

What stage of the food system does waste occur in Australia?

·         34% of food waste occurs at the household level

·         On-farm losses count for 31% of waste

·         24% of food waste occurs during manufacturing

What are some ways to minimise food waste at home?

·         Planning: planning your meals for the week and only buying what you need is a great way to minimise waste, especially for fresh produce.

·         Storage: making sure we store our fresh foods properly to make them last longer and prevent waste! For example, bananas promote the ripening of fruit and vegetables around it, so storing bananas away from other fruits can extend their shelf life. 

·         Composting food waste: this can be through home composting systems, worm farms or bokashi bins. Food waste can also be disposed of in green waste bins available through Darebin Council, which turns our food waste into compost and mulch!

·         Cooking the right portions, freezing any leftovers where possible and getting creative with leftover ingredients!

Want to know more?

·         Darebin Council has incredible resources on their website to reduce food waste, such as their amazing food storage chart.

·         Check out the website for Sustainability Victoria’s ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ initiative for tips on how to reduce food waste at home, from storage solutions to easy recipes.

by MOLLY FAIRWEATHER

DIVRS