Did you know scraping leftovers into the bin contributes directly to climate change ? When food waste is thrown away and sent to landfill , together with other organic materials, it becomes the main contributor to the generation of methane – a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in its impact on climate change. National greenhouse inventory data tells us landfills contribute to two per cent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Households across NSW could help save more than 470,000 tonnes of CO2-e per year by reducing household waste by at least 50 per cent. Wasting food wastes the energy, water and natural resources used to grow, package, transport and market that food. For every household in NSW more than $1,000 of food is thrown away each year – fresh food, leftovers, packaged and long life food, unfinished drinks, frozen food and takeaways. Sad, isn’t it? Loving food is about wasting less every day – saving you time and money, making a difference to our environment and living more sustainably.
What is food waste?
Food waste can be ‘unavoidable’ or ‘avoidable’. ‘Unavoidable’ food waste is food waste that cannot usually be eaten such as pineapple skins, teabags and vegetable peelings.
'Avoidable' food waste is food that is wasted due to:
• buying too much
• cooking too much
• storing it incorrectly
• not using food items before they expire or are no longer usable.
How much do we waste?
• 40 per cent of the average household garbage bin is filled with wasted food each week.
• NSW households throw away more than 800,000 tonnes of food each year.
• In NSW, more than $2.5 billion worth of edible food is thrown away each year.
By simply planning your meals, shopping to a list, using leftovers and storing food correctly you can avoid food waste.
What do we waste?
Each year in NSW we throw away and send to landfill:
* $848 million of fresh food
* $694 million of leftovers
* $372 million of packaged and long-life products
* $231 million of drinks
* $231 million of frozen food
* $180 million of takeaway/home delivery
Love Food Hate Waste provides practical tips and tools that will make it simple for all of us to reduce food waste at home. By simply planning your meals, cooking the right amount and learning how to best store food, you can reduce food waste.
1 Million Women is encouraging members in NSW to register as a Love Food Hate Waste ‘food lover’ .
Register now at- www.lovefoodhatewaste.nsw.gov.au
Waste less food, save money and our environment