Reducing our food waste in Southbank

As we as a community consider ways to reduce our environmental footprint and associated environmental damage, we may want to take a closer look at food waste. The 2021 National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study reported:

• Each year Australians waste around 7.6 million tonnes of food across the food supply chain. This equates to about 312kg per person.
• Food waste costs the Australian economy around $36.6 billion each year.
• As a sector, households generate the most food waste in Australia. Households are responsible for about 30 per cent of the total. This equals around 2.5 million tonnes per year and costs each household up to $2500.
• Food waste accounts for about three per cent of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions.
• Australia uses around 2600 gigalitres of water to grow food that is wasted. This is equal to the water in five Sydney Harbours.
• the amount of land used to grow wasted food in Australia covers more than 25 million hectares. This is a landmass larger than the state of Victoria.

A 2020 study for Sustainability Victoria, The Path to Half, found Victorians waste around 2.4 million tonnes of food each year, which equates to $6.3 billion of lost value. The majority of this cost is borne by households.

Looking at food waste from the perspective of the individual household, we are responsible for more than a third of all food wasted and this primarily happens because we are throwing out uneaten food that ends up in landfill. We do not always consider that we are throwing out the power and water resources used to grow the food, process the raw ingredients, and then package and ship the food.

Reducing food waste will have several positive impacts, including for the individual reducing household costs, and as a community level reducing resource use and reducing land fill. So, what are some simple things we can do?

A good starting point is to plan for the week ahead and only buy what is needed after you have checked your cupboard and fridge. Choose less processed and less packaged foods. Buy fruits and vegies in season and store them the right way. A simple trick is to bring the older foods to the front of the fridge, so they are eaten first. Take the time to label and freeze leftovers so you can eat them at a later date. Freeze vegetable skins and offcuts until you have enough to make stock. Start a compost bin and if you do not have your own garden pots or garden beds that can use the compost, talk to the local community garden groups or your owners’ corporation manager about putting the compost into your apartment building garden beds.

The community garden at the Boyd Community Hub makes full use of the compost from our worm farms in the garden beds. At our meet ups we regularly empty the worm farms and dig the compost in to help keep the soil healthy and a source of the nutrients the plants need.

If you enjoy some hands-on activity in the garden join us Saturday between 10am and noon every second weekend for a little gardening (no previous experience required) and discussion. We are in the community garden in front of the Boyd Community Hub. Next meet up dates are May 10 and 24.

Visit our Facebook page if you are looking for information on how to live more sustainably. There are guides on subjects as diverse as sustainable travel, reducing the impacts of your pets on the environment, volunteering and food composting.

About the group: Southbank Sustainability Group is a solutions-focussed community group of Southbank residents working to bring positive change in sustainability practices. Reach us at [email protected] or facebook or Instagram.

If you are interested in getting involved with Southbank Sustainability Group join us at a Saturday meetup or send us an email. •