Reduce

Let's reduce food waste in Whangārei!

Have you ever discovered a forgotten bag of salad at the back of the fridge or thrown out leftovers you meant to eat? It happens in plenty of Kiwi homes, and those small amounts add up.

Did you know the average New Zealand family throws away more than $1200 of edible food every year? As a country, we throw away $3 billion of edible food every year.

If food waste was a country, it would be the third largest producer of carbon emissions behind China and the United States.

Food scraps belong in a compost bin, not a landfill. In a landfill they don't get enough air, so they rot and make methane gas, which is harmful for the environment.

Whangarei District Council is proud to support the national Love Food Hate Waste New Zealand campaign, which aims to help households reduce their food waste through simple everyday tips and tricks.

Love Food Hate Waste (lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz)

A few small changes to how we shop, store and use our food can make a real difference, both at home and across our community.

Five easy ways to reduce food waste

1. Check what you have before you shop

Look in your fridge, freezer and pantry first. Plan a few meals around what needs to be used and take a shopping list, so you don’t buy more than you need.

Try these meal-planning tips (lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz)

2. Store food so it stays fresh longer

Keep your fridge between 2°C and 5°C and store food in the right place to help it last.

Explore the A–Z Food Storage Guide (lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz)

3. Set up an Eat Me First spot

Choose a shelf, tray or container for food that needs using soon, such as opened yoghurt or leftovers. Put it where everyone can see it.

Order free Eat Me First stickers (lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz)

4. Give leftovers another life

Turn leftover veges into soup or a frittata, or pack extra dinner for tomorrow’s lunch. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and eat them within two days or freeze them for later.

Find leftover inspiration (lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz)

5. Know your food dates

'Best before' is about quality, so food can often still be eaten after this date if stored correctly. 'Use by' is about safety – do not eat food after its use-by date.

Learn the difference between 'best before' and 'use by' dates (lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz)

Visit Love Food Hate Waste NZ for more ideas, recipes, storage advice and practical food-saving tools: