Wasteless: The Facts on Food Waste
Note: This program operated in 2019. More recent statistics are likely available. We recommend using this resource as a starting point before finding updated information.
Roughly one-third of food produced globally is lost or wasted.
In Canada alone, $31 billion worth of food is wasted every year.
Here in our province, we each produce an average of 4.5 pounds of waste per day, which accumulates to a whopping 400,000 tonnes of waste total each year.
As much as 30% of this waste is organic waste. Organic waste has a very damaging effect on our environment.
Luckily, much of this organic waste can be diverted from our landfills. This makes reducing food waste a relatively easy way to help address environmental issues like climate change.
Food Waste Has a Serious Environmental Impact
Many environmental issues — from deforestation to the depletion of fish stocks worldwide — are tied to food production for human consumption. So what a shame that 1/3rd of this food is going to waste!
Food waste is also a major generator of greenhouse gases on our planet, and therefore a significant cause of climate change.
North America’s food waste alone generates 193 million tons of greenhouse gas each year.
When organic waste — like banana peels or coffee grinds — gets buried under other garbage in a landfill, it breaks down very slowly, in the absence of oxygen, releasing methane gas.
Methane is a greenhouse gas that has 21 times the global warming potential as carbon dioxide.
When greenhouse gases like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide gas are released into the atmosphere, they hang around like a cloud that blocks heat from escaping the earth. This forces global warming, which leads to climate change on our planet.
Food First NL has created some resources that can help you spend less on groceries and divert food waste from landfills. Find them below!
Where Is Food Wasted?
While often used interchangeably, food loss and food waste actually occur at different stages of the food chain.
Food loss occurs earlier in the food system, and is caused by inefficiencies in food production and processing. It includes food that needs to be discarded before ever reaching the consumer.
Food waste occurs at the end of the food system. It includes the excess of food and leftovers that end up in the garbage in our homes, restaurants, hospitality industry, etc.
Our Food Systems’ Five Stages
The food system is composed of five stages.
Food Security hinges on harmony among, and within, all parts of this system:
This applies to the disposal stage as much as any other part of the food system, because food security is dependent on a sustainable food system.
Luckily, organic waste can be diverted from our landfills, which makes food waste reduction one relatively straightforward way to reduce our impact on the environment. It’s also a way for one person to help make a difference, and save money while they’re at it!
Download Our Wasteless Resources
Our grocery list and meal planner help to ensure you’re only buying as much food as you need, which saves on food waste and grocery bills.
Our freezer inventory helps you store food long after you would have had to throw it out.