Hastings District Council is set to launch a campaign dedicated to helping households and businesses reduce the amount of food they throw out.
To raise awareness and help reduce food waste, Council’s waste minimisation team has created ‘The Great Food Rescue’ to give people ideas and tools to better manage this waste.
The Council says around 40% of what goes into kerbside rubbish wheelie bins is food waste, much of which could have been turned into another meal, rescued, or composted.
Council waste manager, Angela Atkins said the numbers and impact showed why change was needed.
“The average household in New Zealand wastes $1,364 worth of food each year,” said Ms Atkins.
“Wasted food in general, whether from households, businesses or the commercial sector represents wasted money, water, energy and effort across the board.
“When it’s thrown away the potential value for businesses to create new products, reduce costs or find smarter ways to keep good food in circulation, is lost.
“Food waste sent to landfill also creates methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.”
The Great Food Rescue gives people and businesses practical tools and simple ideas they can use straight away, whether that’s planning meals better, using leftovers, composting at home or work, or exploring new ways to repurpose and add value to surplus food, she said.
As part of The Great Food Rescue month in March, Council is backing Love Food Hate Waste NZ’s nationwide Leftover Legends Challenge.
The challenge encourages people to eat their leftovers for lunch the next day, helping save 25,000 plates of food from landfill. Participants can log their leftover lunches online for the chance to be crowned the country’s Next Leftover Legend and win groceries for a year.
Alongside the national challenge, a range of local events will give residents and businesses practical skills and ideas to reduce food waste at home and at work.
Events include:
For community
A Food Lovers Masterclass with Waste-Ed with Kate.
Free community food waste workshops with Cath Jeffares in Flaxmere and Havelock North.
For business
A practical food waste solutions workshop for businesses with the Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce.
A food rescue innovation event at Foodeast-Haumako.
The Great Food Rescue is a chance for everyone in Hastings to be part of the solution, whether that’s packing leftovers for lunch, learning new kitchen skills, composting at home, or creating new products for your business.
For full event details, dates, ticket information and how to take part, visit www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/services/rubbish-and-recycling/thegreatfoodrescue/.
