Stop Food Waste – Top Tips

Effective Strategies to Stop Food Waste: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Food waste is a grave issue with far-reaching environmental implications. When we discard food, we’re not only wasting the food itself, but we’re also squandering the resources – energy, water, and materials – that were utilised in its production, packaging, and transportation. Decomposing food waste in landfills even emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas that hastens climate change.

Australians throw away $8 billion worth of edible food (up to 20 per cent of our groceries) every year! We’re generating around 7.6 million tonnes of food waste annually. This situation isn’t just environmentally destructive but also economically inefficient and indicative of missed opportunities to feed those in need.

In this guide, we provide tangible strategies to help you reduce food waste, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Here are our top 10 tips to stop food waste

1. Meal Prep: Plan your meals in advance to ensure you utilise all the produce you purchase. This practice helps you shop more effectively, reducing the chance of unnecessary purchases.
2. Prioritise Your Food: Designate a “USE FIRST” box in your fridge for items that should be consumed quickly. It’s a simple yet effective reminder to use perishables before they spoil.
3. Revive Your Veggies: Don’t discard wilting vegetables immediately. Many, including carrots, beets, potatoes, broccoli, asparagus, and leafy greens, can be refreshed in ice-cold water, extending their usability.
4. Store Food Correctly: Use air-tight containers and jars to keep your food fresh longer. Veggie Saver Bags can keep your produce fresh for over two weeks, significantly reducing food waste.
5. Mindful Shopping: Overbuying leads to food waste. Plan your meals, make a shopping list, and stick to it. Buy only what you will use to minimise waste.
6. Dine Responsibly: If dining out, consider taking your own container for any leftovers. This practice helps reduce single-use plastic and food waste simultaneously.
7. Sharing is Caring: Share surplus food with friends, family, or your local community. If you have a home garden with a bountiful harvest, consider distributing the surplus.
8. Veggie Stock from Scraps: Rather than throwing away offcuts of vegetables, such as onion, garlic, celery, and corn cobs, use them to create a flavorful vegetable stock. Just remember to avoid using leafy greens and potatoes.
9. Food Preservation: Techniques like pickling and dehydrating not only extend the life of your food but also offer an exciting twist to your usual recipes.
10. Composting: Composting or donating unusable scraps is an excellent way to reduce waste and give back to the environment. If you’re new to composting, check out our guide on composting vs. biodegradable products.
11. Donate Scraps: If you don’t compost at home, consider donating your scraps. Platforms like Share Waste connect people who wish to recycle their food scraps with those who compost or keep farm animals.

Let’s Stop Food Waste Together!

Reducing food waste is everyone’s responsibility. Let’s make a conscious effort to implement these strategies and make a difference. Which of these are you already practising, and which will you try next?