Food waste has been a hot topic lately. We have learnt that Australians throw out 20% of the food they buy, which equates to every household throwing out $1,036 worth of groceries every year[1]. With many families struggling to make ends meet, and with people on the streets wondering where their next meal will come from, this just doesn’t seem right.
On a global level, roughly one third of the food produced in the world goes to waste[2]. This is shocking on a humanitarian level, as we see people in many countries (as well as our own) starving, but also on an environmental level as the resources that go into producing that food also goes to waste.
Charities like OzHarvest are helping where they can, by collecting and distributing food that would normally go to waste to those in need.
What can we do?
At a household level, there are so many ways we can reduce how much food we throw out. Here are some of the things I’ve tried that have worked for me.
- Meal planning
It sounds time consuming and a bit boring, but by planning my meals out each week I find that I’m going to the shops less (saving lots of time and money) and also using up what’s in the fridge, rather than doing a big throw out at the end of the week. I base my shopping list on the meals I will be cooking that week, and only buy the ingredients that I need. I’m throwing out way less fruit and vegetables, and by not going to the shops as often I’m spending less money on food (we all know how hard it is to only buy the items on the list!). Buying fruit and vegetables in season helps save some dollars too. I’m finding I’m also eating healthier, because I know what I’ll be cooking and I make sure I have plenty of vegies ready to go. I’m less likely to get caught out and need to do a take away run (although a treat is required every now and then!).
- Food storage
How your food is stored can extend the life of some fresh produce, for example I have a couple of containers that have a breathing system which you adjust to the item stored in the container. My broccoli is lasting ages!
I use containers that are freezable and microwaveable to store my leftovers. It makes life so much easier cooking up a big meal the night before to take to work for lunch the next day. Another time where meal planning comes in handy! Having a stash of meals in the freezer is also handy for that night you just don’t feel like cooking.
Beeswax wraps are also great for wrapping up things like cheese, bread and that half used avocado, to keep them fresh for longer. They reduce the need for plastic cling wrap too, which is a bonus.
- Grow your own herbs
One thing I found I was throwing out a lot of was herbs. I love fresh herbs, but often I only needed a small amount of parsley or basil, and the rest gradually went off in the fridge. Now I grow the herbs I use a lot of, it’s a great feeling to go into the backyard and pick some fresh herbs to go straight into dinner. You don’t need much space either, a few pots or a small planter bed will be plenty. Just pick the herbs that are easy to grow (I’ve never had any success with coriander!).
Another option if you buy herbs (or grow your own) is to freeze the portion you don’t use. Rather than wasting it, you will have a bunch ready to go in the freezer for when you need it next. Chop it up and into the freezer it goes. Drying herbs is easy too, just stick a bunch in a brown paper bag. Perfect!
- Compost bins
If a bit of food is looking a bit worse for wear by the end of the week, a great option is a compost bin. Your food waste can be composted and be used to provide organic matter to your garden. This isn’t an option suited to an apartment, but if you have a little room outside in the backyard this is a great way to go.
Alternatively, in some council areas food waste can go into your green organic waste bin. So you can add your food scraps in with your garden waste and it will be turned into useful organic matter like mulch. Check with your local council if this is an option for your suburb.
We hope these tips help!
We hope you have found these tips useful to help you reduce your food waste. While there is still a lot to do on a global level to reduce this problem, we can make a difference in our own homes and take steps to reduce our waste. Let’s give it a try!
Thanks for reading!
Peta
To check out some reuse solutions to reduce household waste, take a look at our store
[1] www.ozharvest.org/what-we-do/environment-facts, 25 June 2017
[2] www.ozharvest.org/what-we-do/environment-facts, 25 June 2017
