Tips to tackle food waste this festive
18 December 2024
Reducing food waste this festive season will help look after our environment, by minimising carbon emissions and the effects of climate change.
Tips to reduce food waste this holiday:
Plan meals and shopping lists: Plan your meals in advance and create a detailed shopping list. This way, you can avoid overbuying and ensure you only purchase what you need.
Buy locally and seasonally: Support local farmers and reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation by choosing locally-grown and seasonal produce.
Proper storage: Store food correctly to extend its shelf life. Ensure refrigerated items are kept at the appropriate temperature and use the first-in, first-out method when organising your pantry.
Think about your fridge/freezer capacity when stocking up on fresh fruit and vegetables, to minimise unnecessary spoiling of unused produce.
Portion control: Be mindful of how much food you cook and serve. Start with smaller portions and allow guests to serve themselves second helpings if desired. This will minimise leftovers and reduce waste.
Be creative with re-using leftover food: There are creative online recipes to turn leftovers into new and exciting dishes to enjoy, rather than just throwing them out.
Composting at home: Composting food scraps reduces landfill waste and creates nutrient-rich compost that can be used to nourish plants and gardens.
Businesses should have waste management plans, including their waste minimisation plan to dispose of organic waste, not via landfill.
‘This festive season let’s all work together to not let food go to waste so we can help protect ourselves from its negative effects in terms of climate change.
‘Food waste is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbates the effects of climate change. When food is wasted, valuable resources such as water, energy and land are wasted. Leftovers and scraps that end up in landfills also produce a potent greenhouse gas that can accelerate climate change.
‘Let’s think about what food we buy, how much we need to buy versus what we will use, and consider the storage of our food especially with the hot days approaching.
‘We wish our residents and visitors to Cape Town a wonderful festive season full of revelry and indulgence, but please keep food waste in mind,’ said Alderman Grant Twigg, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
