EPA pilot program cuts food waste

food waste

Central Coast is one of four communities in New South Wales piloting a two-year program to reduce food waste in their area.

The council is joining Love Food Communities, part of Environment Protection Authority’s broader Love Food Hate Waste program.

The average NSW home throws out about $77 worth of food every week and food waste makes up more than 30 per cent of household waste on the Coast, according to the council.

The council aims to give households and businesses the tools to reduce that number and make positive change.

It will run activities to empower everyone to reduce food waste, helping to save money, time and the environment.

City of Sydney Council, Midwaste and North East Waste are also part of the program.

Together the projects will reach 17,000 households and nearly 500 businesses.

Households will learn skills via the Food Smart program and businesses will be supported by the Your Business is Food program.

Households will collect food waste for a day, send results to an online survey then follow six food waste avoidance behaviours including meal planning, controlling portion sizes, keeping it fresh and using leftovers, for two to four weeks. After that time another food audit is taken.

Council says 91 per cent of families who complete the Food Smart Program report being more aware of food waste, 89 per cent reduce their food waste, and 78 per cent save money on groceries.

Love Food Hate Waste is funded through the NSW Government’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative to help families and businesses reduce food waste and save money.

It forms part of the NSW Government’s commitment to halve food waste by 2030.

 

For more information visit:  info.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/lovefoodhatewaste

 

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