Reduce Waste

By now, most of us have heard about the importance of reducing waste and recycling. Why is this important?  Just dumping waste into the landfill is incredibly expensive and impacts the community for decades.

We all pay the cost of managing the landfill, through taxes and services fees.  By each of us making some small adjustments in our lives, we can reduce the amount of waste produced in the first place. You may have heard of the three R – reduce, reuse, recycle – but did you know there are actually 6 Rs?

• Rethink – being aware of our waste production and considering options that generate less waste
• Refuse – avoid choosing or buying products that generate waste that cannot be recycled
• Reduce – choosing the least wasteful products, for example buying bulk refills
• Re-Use/Repair – can an item that is broken be reused or repaired? E.g. Turn that broken tricycle into a garden feature!
• Recycle – when material can be recycled, ensure it gets into that process and not into the landfill 
• Rebuy – choose products made from recycled material to ensure demand and complete the cycle.

LOVE FOOD, HATE WASTE

Almost a third of the waste going into our landfill is compostable organics.  That means things like kitchen scraps and yard waste, but also food that was bought and then just thrown out before being prepared! In fact, an average Canadian household produces up to 140 kilograms of wasted food per year – at a cost of more than $1,100 to the family budget. Wasting food also means we are wasting the resources used to prepare that food – water, fertilizers, tractor power, transportation costs, even the farmer’s time! If we all take steps to reduce edible food waste, we can reduce what heads to the landfill and save money. 

Love Food, Hate Waste Canada aims to inspire and empower residents to reduce the amount of food they waste at home. For tips on how to plan meals, store food, and use up ingredients before they are wasted, check out the Love Food, Hate Waste Canada website (opens in a new window).