Research reveals Aussie wasting 7.7m meals per day

Almost half of Australians say they could do more to reduce the 2.5m tonnes of food wasted annually, as a new campaign is launched to change habits.

A first-of-its-kind nationwide campaign aims to half food waste by 2030 by “uniting” Australians to make simple changes.

A 2024 study found Australian households wasted about 2.5m tonnes of food annually, the equivalent 7.7 million meals per day, costing households an average of $2500 a year.

On Sunday, not-for-profit Food Waste Australia will launch its “The Great Unwaste” initiative aimed at halving that waste.

Backed by the federal government, the program seeks to rally households to reduce the amount of food they throw away.

Australians are wasting tonnes of food every year. Picture: Supplied

“Households throw out about 2.5m tonnes of food a year, often without realising,” Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said.

“But by making small changes at home, we can cut down our food waste, save money and protect the planet.

“Most people hate wasting food – and hate wasting money. This campaign helps with practical tips to reduce waste.”

Proper food storage, flexible meal planning, and creative use of leftovers were among the ways of reducing food waste.

The launch comes after the end of a three-year study by End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre into food waste habit.

The study, which began in 2021, found Australians households wasted twice as much food per week as they thought.

Australians are being urged to cut back food wastage, which is leading to 7.7 million meals a day being tossed out. Picture: Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Nearly half of respondents said they wanted to do more to reduce their waste and were seeking more information about how.

End Food Waste Australia Campaign Director Mandy Hall said it was important Australians stopped to think about waste.

“Most of our most treasured memories are linked with the food we eat in some way,” Ms Hall said.
“So why, if something is such a profound and intrinsic human need, are we all wasting so much more of it than we think?”

Ms Hall said the campaign rallied Australians to join a “movement and be part of the change we need to see in our homes”.

The campaign aims to reduce the 2.5m tonnes of food waste by 20 per cent to reach a national goal of halving it that year.