Food Waste Statistics Australia: Everything You Need To Know
Australia produces enough food to feed its population three times. While a third of this food volume ends up in the dump, 3.7 million households struggle to put meals on their tables. That’s more than the combined residences of Sydney and Melbourne!
Besides the leftovers that could’ve been eaten, food waste consists of inedible and expired items. Overflowing red bins are unavoidable from peels, bones, shells, skins, or spoiled produce. Moreover, food waste swells from household, commercial, and agricultural sectors.
If food scraps can biodegrade, why is it a major concern? While it substantially drains Australia’s economy and resources, it’s also piling up in landfills, producing greenhouse gases. Read on to explore the country’s food waste by the numbers.
Key Food Waste Statistics in Australia
Food waste is a tragedy that spares no country. UN Environment Agency reports that global food waste reached over 1.05 billion tonnes in 2022. That amounts to 132 kg of food squandered by each person worldwide. Let’s see how Australia compares to these figures.
Annual Food Waste Data
Like most affluent nations, Australia’s food waste is over 7.3 million tonnes annually. Over half of this figure comes from food production (31%) and manufacturing (24%). If placed in semi-trailers in a line, this massive volume would stretch from Perth to Sydney’s coast!
Source: Agriculture.gov.au
Per Capita Food Waste
The average Australian generates 298 kg of food waste. That’s over 160 kg higher than the global average per person. This may even cost a household about $2,200 - $3,800 annually.
In other words, food waste can cost a single household over $50 per week. This is quantified to an average of $20 per person, the value of over 2 kg of discarded food weekly.
Projected Food Waste Trends
While higher income is a likely factor in scaling food waste, Australians’ wages have stagnated over the last decades. Yet discarded food items continue to rise. Based on the 2030 projections, food wastage will increase to 9.2 million tonnes if Australia does nothing.
On the other hand, if actionable initiatives are implemented, total food waste is likely to decrease by 52%. That’s 4.4 million tonnes, a 148 kg drop in annual food waste per capita.
Source: AFCCC
Food Waste Sources in Australia
While the causes of food waste are complex, identifying its sources is relatively easy. Knowing the paths of its supply chain is crucial to cut its swelling volume. Let’s find out the primary sources of Australia’s total food waste.
Household Food Waste
One-third of Australia’s food waste originates from households, 92% of which become landfilled. That’s why it is crucial to reduce behaviour change directed at householders. So, what propels this figure over the years?
Fight Food Waste CRC reveals that 76% of Australians are eager to reduce food waste. However, 44% make extra food often just in case, while only 47% use leftovers. The key food wasters are busy young families, wealthy (with over $3,000 weekly income), and those under 35.
On a national average, a typical Australian household produces 2.89 kg weekly. South Australia records the highest household food waste at 3.05 kg, and Victoria generates the least at 2.73 kg per household (except for NT with limited respondents).
Although reasonable, food waste piles up because of inedible items like bones, skins, or shells. Still, preparing extra dishes and storing excessive products drive household food waste. For example, about 0.34 kg of home meals are wasted, accounting for 17.68 kg of household waste annually.
Where does most of this food rubbish go? Other than your red bins, a chunk of it ends up:
- 47% in the sink (sometimes to almost every time)
- 37% in the green waste bin
- 36% feeding some to the animals
- 30% composting waste
- 12% in worm farm
Commercial Food Waste
Australian businesses generate about a quarter of the national food waste. In the food service sector, annual food waste reaches 58 kg per capita. That’s approximately 1.5 million tonnes from food industries alone!
Businesses generate massive food wastage because of overproduction and inadequate portion control. Put simply, restaurants waste 5% of food due to spoilage and discard another 65% during cooking. This explains why 67% of Australians feel the food industry should be responsible for lowering food waste.
Agricultural and Supply Chain Food Waste
Australia spends about 2,600 gigalitres of water on growing wasted food—the equivalent of the water volume in five Sydney Harbours! Even planting these would cover 25 million hectares, which is larger than the state of Victoria. Annually, this wastage costs over $5.2 billion, a tad higher than running the entire Australian Army ($4.8 billion per year).
Environmental Impact of Food Waste in Australia
Food waste is a huge issue in Australia, posing devastating effects on the people and the planet. Let’s take a glimpse of how food waste burdens the country.
Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In 2018-19, the production and disposal of wasted food reached up to 17.5 million tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalents). That’s equivalent to the annual emissions from Hazelwood power plant, the country’s highest-emitting coal station.
In other words, Australia’s food waste’s carbon emissions intensify global change. It’s equivalent to greenhouse emissions of 4 million vehicles for one year or 41 million barrels of oil consumed!
Impact on Water and Land Resources
Wasted food in Australia uses over 2,600 gigalitres of water. Cutting food waste means a single person could save up to 286 litres of water daily. This would even fill a medium-sized pool after a year!
Another crucial loss from wasting food is land resources. About 3.32 million tonnes of food waste goes straight to landfills annually. That’s why some Aussies think they’re not wasting food by composting or reusing it. However, it still qualifies as wasting food grown in massive dedicated land areas, regardless of where it ends (shown in the figure below).
Estimated volume of food waste generated in Australia in 2020 by destination, by destination (in million metric tons)
Source: Statista
Economic Costs of Food Waste
Australia’s profitable agribusiness generates enough food to feed 60 million individuals. While the industry contributes $59.1 billion, a whopping $20 billion is annually lost due to food waste. This is enough to support over 2 million Australians without food all day.
Government and Community Initiatives to Reduce Food Waste
The National Food Waste Strategy is a collective action to cut Australia’s food waste in half by 2030. This requires actionable approaches to reduce the country’s swelling food waste rate. While this is a promising initiative, each Australian has a role to play.
Ongoing initiatives like CSIRO’s Eliminate Food Loss enhance the sustainability of the food supply chain. The project develops intelligent decision-making tools, new sensors, and processing technologies to recover lost food from farms to retailers.
Australian start-up companies like Food Agility CRC commercialised a digital tool to help farmers increase harvest and avoid food waste. Foodbank, on the other hand, is the country’s largest food relief organisation. The organisation rescued over 300 million kg of food and groceries and donated them to 1,750 schools and 2,600 charities.
Best Practices for Managing Food Waste
Practical tips are crucial to stimulating better behaviours in food waste reduction. For instance, one potential cause for lowering food waste is through a separate collection scheme. Let’s find out how households and businesses can effectively circumvent food wastage.
Household Tips to Reduce Food Waste
While food waste varies from house to house, simple strategies exist for reducing your food waste footprint. Householders can do the following:
- Meal Planning: Craft weekly meal plans to avoid impulse purchases and excess items.
- Proper Food Storage: Learn the optimal storage conditions for food you buy, such as using airtight containers or placing them in the fridge to extend their shelf life.
- Utilise leftovers: Get creative in repurposing them for new meals.
- Label and Date: Identify ‘use-by’ and ‘best-before’ date labelling to consume food within its freshness period.
- Shop Smarter: Consider portion sizes and consumption habits to avoid food over-purchasing.
Solutions for Businesses
Over 50% of Australia’s wasted food originates from production, manufacturing, processing, distribution and retail. Here are innovative strategies to reduce food waste and improve your business’s bottom line:
- Implement Shelf Life Tracker: Use technologies to track and record food freshness to avoid food items spoilage.
- Donate Excess Food: Partner with community food banks or charities to donate surplus food items that are still safe for consumption. This way, you can reduce waste while helping those in need.
- Compost Food Waste: Implement composting programs for unavoidable food waste.
- Reduce Food Portions: Smaller portion sizes suited to individual preferences are key to minimise your business food wastage footprint.
- Staff Education: Train employees on robust stock management, storage, and handling practices to reduce food wastage.
Role of Professional Waste Removal Services
Even though proactive steps exist to reduce household or business food waste, proper disposal and recycling remain crucial. Professional waste removal services, such as All Gone Rubbish Removal, ensure safe and responsible food waste management.
Partnering with expert removalists ensures the safe, efficient disposal of food rubbish. It also maximises recycling efforts by diverting food waste from landfills. An experienced team like All Gone Rubbish Removals actively supports local initiatives to foster a more sustainable, greener community.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much food is wasted in Australia each year?
Australia generates approximately 7.6 million tonnes of food waste each year. As a considerable loss of resources, almost half of it goes straight to landfills, contributing to the nation’s environmental issues.
What is the biggest contributor to food waste in Australia?
Households are the biggest contributors to Australia’s total food waste at 32% (2.46 million tonnes). This is equivalent to 298 kg of wasted food per person, which costs households over $2,000 annually.
How does food waste affect the environment?
Australia uses 2,600 gigalitres of water and 25 million hectares of land to grow the wasted food. It also generates about 17.6 million tonnes of CO2-e annually, equivalent to the greenhouse emissions of 4.6 coal-fired power plants for one year!
What can I do to reduce food waste in my household?
Adopting simple strategies can significantly reduce your household’s food waste. The simplest is noting the ‘use-by’ and ‘best-before’ date labelling to track items’ freshness. Learn how to safely store, repurpose, or add leftovers to your weekly meals. Shop smarter by considering portion sizes and donate surplus food to local food banks.
How can businesses manage their food waste more sustainably?
Businesses can partner with charities as part of their social responsibilities, donating safely consumable food surplus. Alongside best internal practices, engaging with professional services like All Gone Rubbish Removals is key to sustainable food waste management.
At All Gone Rubbish Removals, we have a long-established reputation for responsible food waste collection and disposal. We adhere to stringent local regulations, delivering top-notch services through:
- Experience and Expertise: We bring over a decade of industry experience with unrivalled expertise in robust food waste collection and disposal. We deeply understand local regulations and protocols to ensure seamless, responsible rubbish removal.
- Safe, Efficient Services: We use specialised tools, safety gears, and machinery to ensure safe and efficient waste disposal. Our same-day rubbish removal eliminates any inconveniences!
- Eco-Friendly Recycling: We’re committed to responsible recycling and disposing of food waste. We ensure that food wastage doesn’t end in landfills, promoting a sustainable, cleaner community.
Our trucks operate around Greater Sydney, Central Coast, and Newcastle. Call 0427 783 277 for an obligation-free quote today.
Driven by a passion for helping customers achieve clutter-free spaces, All Gone Rubbish Removals has become a go-to resource for waste management, featuring over 100 expert articles on rubbish removal and sustainability. Aaron’s dedication to efficiency and customer satisfaction ensures his business remains a leader in the industry.
- Deceased Estate Clearance Services: Everything To Expect - January 20, 2025
- Rubbish Tip Near Me in Sydney: Find Your Nearest Tip - January 20, 2025
- Types of Waste Bins in NSW - January 20, 2025