Feeding the Bin Understanding Localised Food Waste Production and Reduction.

Feeding the BinUnderstanding Localised Food Waste Production and

Reduction

Pete HuffCultivating Community

Food Waste and Compost Team [email protected]

Cultivating Community

Cultivating Community is about people, communities, gardening, farming, the environment and food.

Our mission is to work with diverse communities to create fair, secure and resilient food systems

Our core purpose is to provide access to healthy, culturally appropriate food for people and families living on low incomes in the context of a whole of community approach to food security.

Cultivating Community

Core Work Areas

Community Gardens

School Food Gardens

Food Systems Projects

Food Waste and Composting

Why Food Waste

What’s in the BinHow much food waste is in your bin?

- Australian Average: 40-52%or 345kg per Household (3 Full Fridges)

- Nationally: 4,000,000 Tonnes of Food Waste per Year (450,000 Garbage Trucks)

How many shopping bags of food end up in the bin?

- Australian Average: 1 out of every 5

What do you think this costs the average Australian/year?

- Australian Average: $1000-$2000

- Nationally: $8 Billion per Year

Households Food Waste

The average household in the City of Yarra produces 6.96 kilograms of rubbish weekly.

Food is the predominant waste product - 52.6%

Impacts recycling, as food contaminates waste stream and makes resource recovery difficult.

Commercial Food Waste

The average commercial operator in the City of Yarra produces 9.05 kilograms of rubbish weekly.

Again, food is the predominant waste product: 40.1%

The most common recoverable material (other than food) is paper and cardboard, which is the most impacted material by food contamination.

Who Wastes FoodIn Victoria, the top four waste groups are:

Young consumers, aged 18-24 (14.2 litres p.w.)

- Too busy or too transient to develop a pattern

Higher income earners - $130k and over (12.8 litres)

- More likely to overbuy, overcook w/o value for food

Moderate income earners - $65 to $80k (11 litres)

- Time poor or not managing a household budget

Families with children (9.8 litres)

- Likely to do one big shop and/or kids are difficult eaters