The Problem With Food Waste

Our parents or elders often told us that we should not waste food because we should be thankful for the food we have, wasting food is a bad habit, or even because saving money. However, we may not have realized that food waste actually impacts us environmentally.

Greenhouse gases are produced from a lot of different places, but food waste is also a contributor. Wasted food often ends up in landfills, rotting and producing methane. According to scientists, it is believed that 11% of greenhouse gas emission can by preventing which are produced by the food system.

In Canada, food waste that is avoidable costs the average Canadian household $1 300 per year and about 50% of food waste by a family in Toronto is avoidable. Research done by the National Zero Waste Council says that 2.3 million tonnes of food which is edible is wasted each year in Canada, costing $21 billion. This large number of food waste is the same as 6.9 million tonnes of CO2, which is more than 2 million cars.

How could we reduce our food waste?

• Plan your meals for the week.

• Before shopping, check your fridge, freezer or cupboards.

• Use perishable foods earlier and save others for later.

• Buy smaller amount of fresh vegetables

• Store food in the correct place to keep it fresh for longer.

• Make items last longer by freezing them.

• Use food that is about to go bad in different ways.

Sources:

Food Waste – City of Toronto

The Environmental Impact of Wasted Food | Let's Talk Science (letstalkscience.ca)