Food waste contributes significantly to climate change. About 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by food waste (external link). Australia is no exception.
In 2018, we generated 3.1 million tons of food waste (external link), which was enough to fill 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools. In 2021, food waste in Australia will cost $10.3 billion. This is enough to feed every Brisbane household for an entire year.
To achieve our goal of halving food waste by 2030 and create a sustainable future, we must pay greater attention to the items we toss in the trash. Food waste is created by wasting energy, water, and other resources in the production, packaging, storage, and transportation of food.
Here are some simple ways to reduce food waste at home.
1. Meal planning to avoid overbuying
Planning your meals can make life easier and save you money. Choose meals that you can store in the refrigerator for multiple nights or transform leftovers into tasty lunches.
Buy the right amount to make the most of your shopping trips. Plan ahead to avoid last-minute trips to the grocery store and enjoy more time doing the things you like. This also helps you choose healthier food and eliminates the need for guesswork at mealtime.
Saveful(external links) also provides foodie inspiration. It offers flexible meal plans based on foods you have at home. Thanks 4 Farmers developed the app to help Australian households save money, time, and food.
The way you store your food can significantly impact its longevity and taste. Love Food Hate Waste (external link) has many tips for food storage, planning, and shopping.
2. Choose what’s in season
It’s time to enjoy the seasonal benefits! The flavour and nutrition of seasonal fruits and vegetables is at its peak. They are also fresher, and they can last longer because they haven’t travelled long distances. In addition, seasonal produce that is grown locally requires less fuel to transport, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Farmers’ markets are a great place to meet your local community and get the freshest products. They’re also usually cheaper.
Next time you go shopping for fruit and vegetables, choose what is in season. You’ll thank your taste buds, body, community, wallet and planet. The Saveful app is also a great tool for this. It highlights seasonal produce and provides tips on how to make the most of it.
3. Food scraps should be disposed of properly
Even though it may seem like an insignificant step, disposing of your food scraps more considerately can make a big difference to the environment. You can recycle food waste in a compost pile or tub. This will provide valuable nutrients to your garden. You can also save your kitchen scraps to feed a chicken coop or a worm farm.
Grow it Local is an excellent resource for practical tips and tricks to reduce food waste. You can attend free online workshops on composting, worm farms, and growing your produce. If you want to learn more about sustainable living, check out Grow it Local. You can also follow our simple, step-by-step guide to compost at home effectively. Once you start, you will be hooked!
Brisbane City and Logan City are two Queensland councils that offer composting rebates. You can receive cash incentives when you purchase composting equipment. You can check with your local council if they have a similar program in your area.
Committed to reducing waste
These simple hacks are a good start, but they’re only one part of the solution. We are committed to our part. Queensland Organics’ strategy outlines the goals we want to reach by 2030.
- Reduce the amount of food waste produced
- Divert 80 % of organic waste generated from landfill
- Achieve at least 70% recycling of organic waste.
We have big plans to achieve these goals. From top to bottom, there is a strong focus on education and research, affecting everyone from large corporations to individuals. We are developing industry action plans and increasing the capacity to rescue food. Other efforts include improving organic waste and planning long-term for regional waste infrastructure.
We also encourage young Queenslanders to adopt a sustainable mentality by supporting the EcoMarines Foundation (external links), which teaches school children the basics of waste reduction and recycling. Composting and waste reduction.
End Food Waste Australia (external link), the leading organization in Australia to implement the National Food Waste Strategy, is supported by the Queensland Government. The Queensland Government supports End Food Waste Australia(external links), our country’s leading organization, to deliver on the National Food Waste Strategy.
Do you want more information on the plan? The Queensland Organics Action Plan contains a list of all the steps that we are taking to reduce food waste.
