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Love Food Communities

Did you know, the average NSW home throws out around $77 worth of food every week?

If food waste were a country, it would be the third biggest source of carbon pollution accounting for 8% of the world’s greenhouse gases!

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Let’s work together to reduce the amount of food waste on the Central Coast!

We are proud to be one of the first NSW Government EPA Love Food Communities, which is part of the EPA’s broader Love Food Hate Waste program. We need your help to make a difference, here’s how you can get involved: 

Are you a household? Join the ‘Food Smart’ for households program
Are you a business? Join the ‘Your Business is Food’ for businesses program

Want to learn more?

  1. Find out more about the Love Food Communities initiative
  2. Get started with these six tips for food waste avoidance!
  3. Join our  Food Smart Central Coast Facebook group for tips on reducing food waste.
Love Food Hate Waste

Let’s work together to reduce the amount of food waste on the Central Coast!

We are proud to be one of the first NSW Government EPA Love Food Communities, which is part of the EPA’s broader Love Food Hate Waste program. We need your help to make a difference, here’s how you can get involved: 

Are you a household? Join the ‘Food Smart’ for households program
Are you a business? Join the ‘Your Business is Food’ for businesses program

 

Want to learn more?

  1. Find out more about the Love Food Communities initiative
  2. Get started with these six tips for food waste avoidance!
  3. Join our  Food Smart Central Coast Facebook group for tips on reducing food waste.
For Home

Food Smart Program for Households

Did you know food waste makes up over 30% of household waste on the Coast? Be part of the solution to reduce this statistic and join the Food Smart Program today!

Simply fill out the form and you’ll be provided with the tools you need to reduce your waste, including a meal planner magnet, shopping list, spaghetti portioner, storage box and clips, apron and some great recipes to ensure there’s no food waste in your kitchen!

You'll also be required to fill in a quick survey at the beginning and end of the program so we can track your progress!

Next steps

Once you’ve received your kit

  1. Collect your food waste for one day in the food waste audit bag

  2. Send in your results through our online survey

  3. Follow the six food waste avoidance behaviours

  4. After two to four weeks of living these behaviours, conduct another food audit and submit your results through our final online survey

After completing the Food Smart Program, 91 percent of families reported being more aware of food waste, 89 percent reduced their food waste, and 78 percent saved money on groceries!

SIGN UP TO THE FOOD SMART PROGRAM

Food Smart Program for Households

Fill out the form below to join the Food Smart Program for Households and to receive program updates. We'll get in touch with everything you need to start our waste reduction journey! 
For Local business

Your Business is Food

We’re encouraging local food centred businesses to sign up for this exciting opportunity to obtain more information, advice and resources to help reduce the amount of food wasted.

If accepted into the program your business will receive:

  • An ingredient planner magnet, so you know what to order based on what you already have in the stock
  • Kit container with handy resources such as food fresh labels and food clips
  • Portion awareness plates to help educate your staff
Next Steps

Once you’ve received your kits

  1. Do a food waste review to work out where food is being wasted (during preparation, storage or from customers plates)

  2. Live the new waste behaviours for two to four weeks, taking up at least two or three actions to reduce food waste

  3. Do a follow-up review to measure your success and promote your achievements to staff and customers.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Your Business is Food

Fill out the form below to register your interest in the Food Smart Program for Business and to receive program updates.
Get started with these six tips

Live food waste avoidance

Step 1 - Know Your Waste
Work out how much food you’re throwing away to find ways to save it!

 

Step 2 – Plan Your Meals
Make life easier and know what’s for dinner by planning your meals for a few days or the week ahead, saving you time and money!

Step 3 – Shop With a List
A list is your best friend at the shops and when you get back home; just make sure you double-check what you already have in the fridge and pantry first.

Step 4 – Perfect Portion Size
Cooking or preparing the right amount of food is satisfying and healthy!

Step 5 – Keep it Fresh
Clever kitchen appliances, containers, utensils and tools can help you to store your food wisely and keep it fresher for longer.

Step 6 – Love Your Leftovers
Leftovers can be a great way to save time, save money and eat well – cook once, eat twice!

More About Love Food Hate Waste

Over the coming months we are supporting thousands of community members in reducing their food waste, by helping residents learn new skills and further develop knowledge through the following programs:

‘Food Smart’ for households
‘Your Business is Food’ for businesses

Central Coast Council is proud to be one of four communities in NSW piloting this community-wide approach to reducing food waste. This program is fully funded through the NSW Government’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative to help families and businesses reduce food waste and save money. It forms part of the NSW Government’s commitment to halve food waste by 2030.

Learn More

This project is a NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Waste Less Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.

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