Each year, Australians waste around 7.6 million tonnes of food across the food supply chain. With a population of 25 million, this equals to about 312kg per person and can cost up to $2,500 per household per year.
Food waste that rots in landfill and produces methane emissions, which is a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
About 30% of Australia’s food waste is generated by households.
How to manage our food and reduce food waste
Not only will reducing food waste be good for the environment by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases we produce, it can also help:
reduce household and grocery costs
save time
provide health benefits and
even bring communities together.
Here are some tips we compiled to help you reduce your food waste.
Shop smart
Planning your meals ahead, taking an inventory of your fridge and pantry, and utilising a grocery list will help you buy only what you need, avoid over-buying and reduce produce being left to rot at the back of the fridge.
If you only need to pick up a few items, consider using a shallow shopping basket or a smaller trolley if possible. This can help you manage your purchases more easily and avoid the temptation to add extra items you don’t need
Buy “imperfect” produce
In Australia, up to 25% of all vegetables produced never leave the farm, often because they are too oddly shaped for the grocery store. Many of us have been conditioned to believe that fruits and vegetables must look flawless to be edible.
In reality, produce with slight imperfections—like a misshapen carrot or a slightly bruised apple—is often just as nutritious and tasty as its perfectly symmetrical counterparts.
Sometimes, they’re even sold at a discount, making it a budget-friendly choice. Choosing “imperfect” produce also supports farmers who may otherwise discard perfectly good crops due to cosmetic standards imposed by retailers.
Use it all
Many fruits and vegetables are nutritious from peel to core. For example, potato skins contain valuable fibre, and broccoli stalks are just as nutritious as the florets. Instead of peeling or discarding these parts, just give them a good wash and find ways to incorporate them into your recipes. Cook them whole without peeling, or use the peels and extra bits in stocks, soups, smoothies, or in baking.
Remember your leftovers
Store leftovers properly in airtight containers and consume them for lunch or dinner the next few days or freeze them for later. You can also bring containers with you to restaurants, in case you accidentally order more than you can eat.
Store food wisely
Proper storage is key to extending the shelf life of perishable items and reducing waste. Keep perishable items like dairy and meats at the back of the fridge where it's coldest and utilise the crisper drawers for vegetables and fruits that require higher humidity levels. There are many resources out there with tips and tricks for extending the shelf life of your food, such as tips to keep your fruits and vegetables fresher for longer.
Use a composting system, worm farm or bokashi
For the unavoidable food waste, we recommend turning it into nutrient rich soil for your plants instead of letting them go to landfill. The three most popular ways to do this are through composting, worm farming and the bokashi method. Depending on the kinds of organic waste you are generating, the amount of space you need and the byproducts you are looking to get, you may find that one method works better than the others.
Learn more on which method suits you best.
Share your waste
No food waste system at home? No problem. You can pass it on to your neighbour! Share Waste is a platform that connects people who want to recycle their food and garden waste with neighbours or communities that already have a system in place.
Utilise the FOGO
FOGO is a kerbside collection service that allows food scraps to be added to garden waste bins to be collected by your council and recycled into compost. Right now, not all Australians households have access to a FOGO bin, many still have green bins which collects only garden waste.
If you live in an area with FOGO bins, find out what can be composted through your local council website.
If your council doesn’t have a FOGO bin, consider contacting your local council to ask about the timeframe for your area. The more councils hear that people want it, the more likely they’ll push for it.
Let’s tackle food waste together
Food waste isn't just an industry issue—it starts in our homes. By making small changes in our daily food and grocery habits, not only can we reduce our environmental impact, but also save money. These efforts, combined with food waste recycling, and community initiatives like sharing waste, and the FOGO services, can help prevent our food waste from going to landfill.
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