Australia is one of the top countries that produce the most waste.
In Australia, we waste around $8 billion of food each year to landfill, most of which is fresh food and leftovers! Waste generated in Australia grew at a much faster rate than the economy, increasing by approximately 163% between 1996-97 and 2013-14 (ABS 2016).
The Government estimates food waste costs the Australian economy $20 billion each year. Over 5 million tonnes of food ends up as landfill, enough to fill 9,000 Olympic sized swimming pools.
One in five shopping bags end up in the bin = $3,800 worth of groceries per household each year. 35% of the average household bin is food waste and Food waste is a major source of greenhouse gases including Methane Gas.
Methane is so much worse for the planet, landfilling is the most common waste management practice here in Australia and results in the release of methane gas from the anaerobic decomposition of organic materials.
Methane is around 21 times more potent as a GHG (greenhouse gas) than carbon dioxide. If the disposal of organic matter were decreased it would be possible to reduce the amount of methane emissions. Many wastewater treatment plants across Australia are able to harness this gas and convert to renewable energy.
