Think smart about food waste this Christmas

MEDIA RELEASE

The State Government is calling on South Australians to do their bit to help reduce waste to landfill this Christmas by being smarter with food scraps and organics.

On average, South Australian households generate around 3.3kg of food waste each week. With increased purchasing and consumption over the holiday period, more than 5,400 tonnes of food waste is expected to be generated over Christmas and the New Year in South Australia.

Minister for Environment David Speirs said the holiday season is the perfect time for families to look at how they manage their household waste.

“The Christmas holidays are a great time to spend a couple of weeks relaxing with family and friends but it’s also a time where we often find ourselves consuming more food at home,” said Minister Speirs.

“South Australians lead the nation when it comes to recycling but reducing waste to landfill by using our organics bin more is something we can improve.

“As it stands as much as 40 per cent of the material in South Australian household waste bins sent to landfill is food and organics which could be diverted through the green bin.

“Less waste to landfill is not only good for the environment but it’s good for the economy with more than three times as many jobs created for every tonne of waste recycled or reused instead of going to landfill.

“This Christmas I’m calling on South Australians to think about a few of the simple things we can all do at home to reduce our waste we send to landfill.

“Things like getting a compost bin or a kitchen caddy to put food scraps in or just educating yourself on what products can go in each bin by visiting our whichbin.sa.gov.au website.”

Birkenhead young mother and creator of the Facebook page Reduce Reuse Recycle in Radelaide, Laura Carrington said through improved household waste management her family has only had to put their landfill bin out twice this year.

“We have five people living in our house and by just introducing some simple things we’ve been able to nearly eliminate our waste to landfill,” said Ms Carrington.

“Doing the right thing with food scraps and putting them in your organics bin or creating a compost bin at home is by far the easiest way to reduce your landfill footprint.

“South Australians will also be surprised just how many regular household items can go in the organics been instead of landfill such as tissues, paper towel and even greasy pizza boxes.”

Minister Speirs said the Marshall Liberal Government is investing nearly $25 million to boost recycling and resource recovery and keep waste out of landfill through investment, infrastructure, education and modernisation of council and industry collection services.

“This funding will lead to less waste sent to landfill, a reduction in emissions, and will also provide vital stimulus to our world-leading waste management and resource recovery sector, leading to potentially more jobs here in South Australia.

“When organic material gets sent to landfill it generates Methane. Methane is up to 25 times worse as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide when it comes to global warming.

“Every 1,000 tonnes of organic material diverted from landfill can save 600 tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions.

“The waste management and resource recovery industry is a major player in South Australia’s economy with approximately 4,800 people employed and we want to this number to grow.”