How Ontarians Can Combat Food Waste

In Canada, $31 billion worth of food is wasted annually[1]. Ontarians alone generated nearly 3.6 million tonnes of food and organic waste [2]. Over 60 percent of Ontario’s food waste is sent to landfills, even with over 90 municipal green bin programs in Ontario [3]. In addition to economic costs, food waste has substantial environmental impacts. When this material ends up in landfills, it creates methane, which is 28 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide when measured over 100 years [4]. Wasted food squanders the resources used to grow, produce, and distribute that food to consumers and produces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

Canada's 2.2 million tonnes of avoidable household food waste is equivalent to 9.8 million tonnes of CO2 or 2.1 million cars on the road [5].

Percentage of unplanned (avoidable) and potentially edible food loss & waste (FLW).
Source: National Zero Waste Council  [6]

What does this mean for those who do not
participate in local green bin initiatives and
general composting?

As food and organic waste break down in an oxygen-deprived environment, they create methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In 2015, greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector accounted for 8.6 megatonnes of carbon dioxide [7] or approximately 5% of Ontario’s total greenhouse gas emissions from all sources. Sending food and organic waste to landfills is ultimately unsustainable and puts additional strain on our environment by requiring new landfill space. Given projected population growth and economic trends, it is forecasted that Ontario will need 16 new or expanded landfills by 2050 if no progress is made to keep our resources out of landfills [3]

Keeping food and organic waste out of landfills can help us fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Doubling the province’s current recovery rate of food and organic waste would result in a reduction of an additional 1.1 megatonnes in greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to removing approximately 260,000 cars from Ontario roads each year [2].

What are the environmental tolls of food waste?

Wasting food means wasting the resources used to grow, produce, and distribute food to consumers. Transporting food from farm to table and then managing or disposing of food as waste also has a significant carbon footprint, contributing to Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. Diverting food waste to composting is better than sending it to a landfill, but preventing food from being wasted in the first place is an even more effective way to reduce our impact on the environment.

How do the numbers look in Ontario?

Ontarians generated about 3.7 million tonnes of food and organic waste, which includes food that could have been eaten or repurposed, as well as unavoidable waste, such as food scraps and vegetable peelings. About 60% of this was sent to the landfills. Consumers are responsible for the largest share of food waste, at approximately 47% of total food waste [3]

The supply chain generates the remaining waste, where food is grown, processed, transported, and sold. Greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector accounted for 8.6 megatonnes of carbon dioxide or approximately 5% of Ontario's total greenhouse gas emissions from all sources [8].

Is there a difference between residential and
commercial establishments regarding food
waste?

Ontario's municipalities recovered over one million tonnes of food and organic waste from the residential sector, including about 480,000 tonnes of green bin waste [8]. Some establishments, such as offices, factories, and public facilities, generate food and organic waste due to consumers, residents, or employees going about their daily activities. For other sectors, food and organic waste are a result of their core purpose as establishments. Significant effort moving forward is needed to prevent, reduce, and recover resources from food and organic waste.

The Region of Peel’s curbside audit reported that 40 percent of the food waste that residents throw out is avoidable food waste. Approximately 53 percent is leftovers that could have been eaten while and the remaining 47 percent is untouched food. The average household could save up to $112 per month by reducing its food waste. If every household could cut its food waste by the equivalent of one watermelon this year, then Peel Region could reduce food waste by one percent [9].

Keeping organic waste out of the disposal stream is a high priority for Ontario. Reduce food and organic waste: Preventing food from becoming waste is a critical first step and has the greatest positive impact on the environment, the economy, and society. Rescuing surplus food when it occurs further reduces food waste and ensures that edible food does not end up as waste. As such, the province will work with partners such as Foodland Ontario, municipalities, the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (IC&I) sector, and non-profit organizations to develop educational tools and resources, which could be tailored for various audiences [8]. These could include: 

Standardized promotion, education, and guidance materials (e.g., best practices for meal planning and food storage, including tips on how to extend the life of food, such as freezing food where appropriate and safe). Demonstrating market opportunities for imperfect produce and culled products for producers and processors. Exploring opportunities to use digital tools to raise awareness and change behaviour (e.g., using social media, web-based platforms, and applications that support food waste prevention). The province will work with interested partners, build on existing efforts, and consider any relevant national policies, initiatives, or other successful waste reduction activities in other comparable jurisdictions [8].

Sending food and organic waste to a landfill is ultimately unsustainable. It puts additional strain on our environment by requiring new landfill space. Suppose no progress is made to keep our resources out of landfills.

In that case, forecasted population growth and economic trends project that Ontario will need 16 new or expanded landfills by 2050. Reducing food and organic waste preserves our natural resources and helps fight climate change. It also saves consumers and businesses money while improving access to healthy and fresh food for Ontarians.

The issue of food waste is solvable. The province of Ontario is implementing its action plan, which involves the province to: 

1. Work with partners to develop promotion and education tools to support food waste prevention and reduction.
2. Enhance and incorporate waste reduction and resource recovery activities within schools.
3. Work with the Government of Canada on preventing food waste.
4. Work with partners to support innovative approaches and tools to rescue surplus food.
5. Develop food safety guidelines to support the safe donation of surplus food. Support research aimed at reducing and recycling food and organic waste.
6. Develop data collection mechanisms for measuring progress in waste reduction and resource recovery of food and organic waste. 

The province intends to work in cooperation with the Government of Canada to align efforts, where possible, on preventing and reducing food waste and greenhouse gas emissions from food waste.

The Government of Canada is currently investigating initiatives that will aim to reduce the amount of food being wasted in Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Strategy on Short-Lived Climate Pollutants identifies the intent to consult on strategies to reduce avoidable food waste and increase resource recovery in order to reduce landfill methane emissions.

In addition, the Government of Canada is also responsible for establishing regulations regarding best-before dates for food products. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is currently undertaking a Food Labelling Modernization Initiative, which includes a review of date labeling formats to simplify their readability and expand their use.

As part of the labeling initiative, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has indicated that clear date labeling needs to be supported with consumer education to improve understanding and use of best-before dates.

The province supports the Government of Canada’s initiative to clarify current food labeling practices in an effort to reduce consumer confusion and ultimately food waste.

The province is working with the Government of Canada as it develops a proposed Food Policy for Canada, which will address food waste, increase access to affordable food, improve the health of soil, water, and air, as well as grow more high-quality food.

Ontarians can plan out a meal, portion size adequately, freeze food, and plan an efficient shopping list. Sign up for your city's green bin program, and start a compost bin. Spreading awareness about food waste with friends, families, & coworkers.