Business · Economy · 5 hrs ago
Food waste costs Australia more than $36 billion a year
Australia wastes about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year, at a cost of more than $36 billion to the economy.
About 70 per cent of that food could have been eaten.
Hospitality businesses account for 1.2 million tonnes of food waste each year, and the cost to the sector is about $6.4 billion.
In Sydney, pub and brewery owner Karl Riseborough found that spent grain from brewing and scraps from the kitchen were filling his bins.
He now gives the spent grain to people who use it for gardens or animals, and has cut his bin collection from weekly to once a fortnight, saving about $5,000 a year.
Food waste also adds pressure to landfills, which are nearing capacity in parts of Australia.
The federal government has a target to halve food waste by 2030, but a food and health professor says the country may not be on track.
Australia wastes about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year, costing the economy more than $36 billion.
About 70 per cent of the wasted food is edible, with effects on landfill capacity, food security and the climate.
The hospitality sector wastes 1.2 million tonnes of food a year, with an estimated economic impact of $6.4 billion.
Sydney pub and brewery owner Karl Riseborough says reusing spent grain and reducing rubbish collection saves him about $5,000 a year.
A food and health professor at UNSW doubts Australia is on track to meet the federal government’s 2030 food waste target.
- Who
- Australians and businesses generate food waste; the story also features Sydney pub and brewery owner Karl Riseborough and food waste expert Belinda Chellingworth.
- What
- Australia wastes about 7.6 million tonnes of food a year, at a cost of more than $36 billion to the economy.
- When
- Each year. The federal government has committed to a 2030 food waste target.
- Where
- Australia, including Riseborough’s pub and brewery in Sydney.
- Why
- Food is wasted through practices such as kitchen preparation, plate waste and over-ordering. The sources say businesses may not recognise the full costs across their operations.
Federal government
Johannes le Coutre
2030 target
Federal government
The federal government has committed to halving food waste by 2030.
Johannes le Coutre
UNSW professor Johannes le Coutre doubts the target is attainable or achievable under current conditions.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Annual food waste
- About 7.6 million tonnes
- Economic cost
- More than $36 billion a year
- Edible share
- 70 per cent
- Hospitality food waste
- 1.2 million tonnes a year
- Riseborough's savings
- About $5,000 a year
What people are saying
I'm not sure if that's attainable or achievable with the current landscape
So now I have regular users who come and collect it once I've brewed and use it for the benefit of their gardens or their animals
Typically, many businesses, if they've got food left over at the end of their operations or the end of the day, then it will be landfilled
Sources
Related news
ANZ shares recover 12% from a 52-week low
West Cobar plans first dedicated scandium drilling at Salazar
Couples can split super contributions to manage tax and pension eligibility
Temple & Webster shares fall about 80% as growth prospects remain in focus
WAM highlights Codan and Megaport as ASX 200 growth picks
Adidas sues Australian fashion label White Fox over four-stripe clothing design
Firmus scraps planned Australian IPO as investors question its valuation
Treasury Wine sells Rosemount label back to the Oatley family
Bridgeport Energy wins tenders to explore 270,000 hectares in Queensland
