The Times Australia
Thursday, April 3, 2025 9:22:27 PM
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

We found 3 types of food wasters, which one are you?

  • Written by Trang Nguyen, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Adelaide
We found 3 types of food wasters, which one are you?

Each year, Australian households discard about 2.5 million tonnes of food[1]. Most (73%) of this food waste ends up in landfill[2].

This is costly and contributes to escalating greenhouse gas emissions[3], because food waste rotting in landfill produces methane. So reducing household food waste and diverting it from landfill saves money, improves food security and benefits the environment.

To address the problem, we need to understand how people generate and dispose of food waste. In our new study[4], we found households fell into three categories – based on the amount of food wasted, how much of that waste was avoidable and how it was sorted. These insights into consumer behaviour point to where the most worthwhile improvements can be made.

Tips and tricks for reducing household food waste from the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre.

Read more: The case for compost: why recycling food waste is so much better than sending it to landfill[5]

Three types of households

We conducted an online survey of 939 households in metropolitan Adelaide between April and May 2021.

The sample closely matched the national Australian population in terms of gender, age and income.

We asked about the types of food waste produced, the amount of food waste typically discarded in a week and motivations towards reducing and sorting food waste.

We identified three distinct types of households:

Warriors are typically older and highly motivated to reduce and sort food waste. They generate minimal waste (9.6 litres per week), such as bones and vegetable peels, that is mostly unavoidable. This group comprised 39.6% of the sample.

Strugglers mainly consist of families with children who produce the largest amount of food waste (33.1 litres per week). They produce the highest proportion of avoidable food waste, such as uneaten fruits and vegetables, bread and cereals. They are moderately motivated to reduce and sort food waste, but more than half of their food waste still ends up in landfill. This group made up 19.6% of the sample.

Slackers are generally younger. They show little concern about reducing or sorting food waste. Slackers produce the smallest amount of food waste overall (9 litres a week), but the proportion of avoidable food waste (such as mixed leftovers) is significantly higher (38.9%) compared to warriors (24.5%). They are more than twice as likely to live in units, with 17.2% doing so, compared to just 7.8% of warriors. This group was 40.8% of the sample.

Graphic explainer showing the three types of households with their typical characteristics and food waste behaviours.
The three types of households with their typical characteristics and food waste behaviours. Trang Nguyen using Canva.com, CC BY-NC-ND[6][7]

Read more: We can't keep putting apartment residents' waste in the too hard basket[8]

What can households do about their food waste?

Reducing household food waste involves changing behaviours in both food management (“upstream”) and waste management (“downstream”).

Upstream measures aim to prevent food waste in the first place. For example, households can avoid buying or cooking too much food. Supporting households to plan and buy just the right amount of food is a great starting point.

Once food waste has been produced, downstream measures come into play. The focus shifts to how we handle and dispose of this waste.

When households engage in food waste recycling they start thinking more[9] about their behaviour including purchasing and cooking.

In Australia, food waste management is mainly the responsibility of local councils.

There are three ways to target household food waste management and drive behavioural change:

  • providing kerbside collection of food organics and garden organics, also known as “FOGO”

  • changing social norms around food waste

  • offering economic incentives and disincentives.

1. Providing a FOGO system

A screenshot of the Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) interactive map, zoomed in on South Australia and the eastern states. The FOGO interactive map shows the local government areas that currently have a food waste collection service, data is current as of February 2023. Bright green is FOGO, dark green is garden organics only. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water[10]

Councils should provide this option at a minimum. This ensures sufficient infrastructure is available to support motivated households to sort food waste.

Unfortunately fewer than half of Australian councils[11] provide a garden organics system and only a quarter of councils provide a FOGO system.

You can explore the FOGO interactive map[12] to see how your area stacks up.

Most councils in metropolitan Adelaide[13] provide access to food waste recycling through the FOGO bin. But our research[14] indicates more than half of household food waste still ends up in landfill. So we need additional programs to promote more sustainable behaviours.

2. Changing social norms

Social norms, the unspoken rules about what behaviours are deemed appropriate, can drive behavioural change.

Examples of promoting social norms around food waste reduction include a nationwide consumer campaign[15] on stopping food waste and the kitchen caddy[16] for benches to increase convenience for collecting food waste.

But our research suggests some groups, like slackers, remain unmotivated without additional incentives. Economic incentives might motivate this group to engage in more sustainable behaviours.

Closeup photo of a person scraping food scraps into a benchtop kitchen caddy with a compostable liner, for recycling in the food organics collection system A benchtop kitchen caddy with a compostable liner for food waste scraps, provided by Adelaide City Council. Trang Nguyen

3. Economic incentives

Currently, Australians pay for waste management through their council rates. This is a “pay-as-you-own” system.

The cost is determined by the property’s value, regardless of the amount of waste generated. Renters indirectly contribute to this cost by paying rent.

Neither owner-occupiers nor renters have any incentive to reduce waste generation when the cost is levied on property value rather than the amount of waste.

An alternative approach gaining momentum in other parts of the world is the “pay-as-you-throw” approach, such as Stockholm[17] and Taipei[18]. This system charges households based on the weight of their waste, usually the general waste that needs to be discarded in landfill, while the collection of food waste and other recyclables remains free to encourage waste sorting.

Recent research[19] in Italy shows pay-as-you-throw schemes result in significant reductions in both the quantity of waste and costs associated with waste disposal in many Italian municipalities.

The reduced costs flow on to savings for councils that could potentially reduce waste management fees passed on to homeowners and renters through council rates. Giving households incentives to reduce waste and find alternatives to disposal encourages residents to place a higher value on food that may otherwise be sent to landfill.

Read more: Want to reduce your food waste at home? Here are the 6 best evidence-based ways to do it[20]

Reducing food waste is a win-win

Tackling food waste is a win-win for people and the planet. It’s worth using various approaches to encourage people to change their behaviour.

Our findings can help inform the design of interventions aimed at reducing and sorting food waste in specific segments of the Australian population.

No time to waste: Halving Australia’s food waste by 2030 (Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre)

References

  1. ^ 2.5 million tonnes of food (workdrive.zohopublic.com.au)
  2. ^ ends up in landfill (www.sciencedirect.com)
  3. ^ escalating greenhouse gas emissions (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  4. ^ our new study (doi.org)
  5. ^ The case for compost: why recycling food waste is so much better than sending it to landfill (theconversation.com)
  6. ^ Trang Nguyen using Canva.com (doi.org)
  7. ^ CC BY-NC-ND (creativecommons.org)
  8. ^ We can't keep putting apartment residents' waste in the too hard basket (theconversation.com)
  9. ^ start thinking more (doi.org)
  10. ^ The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (experience.arcgis.com)
  11. ^ fewer than half of Australian councils (experience.arcgis.com)
  12. ^ the FOGO interactive map (experience.arcgis.com)
  13. ^ Most councils in metropolitan Adelaide (www.greenindustries.sa.gov.au)
  14. ^ our research (doi.org)
  15. ^ nationwide consumer campaign (www.stopfoodwaste.com.au)
  16. ^ kitchen caddy (www.cityofadelaide.com.au)
  17. ^ Stockholm (www.collectors2020.eu)
  18. ^ Taipei (pocacito.eu)
  19. ^ research (doi.org)
  20. ^ Want to reduce your food waste at home? Here are the 6 best evidence-based ways to do it (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/we-found-3-types-of-food-wasters-which-one-are-you-214482

The Times Features

Understanding the Dangers of Ignoring a Gas Leak

Gas leaks are silent threats lurking within both homes and workplaces. A gas leak occurs when natural gas or any other gaseous substance escapes from a pipeline or containment. T...

Can You Sell Your House Privately in Queensland? Here’s How

Selling a house privately in Queensland is entirely possible and can be a cost-effective alternative to using a real estate agent. While agents provide valuable expertise, their co...

Itinerary to Maximize Your Two-Week Adventure in Vietnam and Cambodia

Two weeks may not seem like much, but it’s just the right time for travelers to explore the best of Vietnam and Cambodia. From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the magnificent te...

How to Protect Your Garden Trees from Wind Damage in Australia

In Australia's expansive landscape, garden trees hold noteworthy significance. They not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of our homes but also play an integral role in the local...

Brisbane Homeowners Warned: Non-Compliant Flexible Hoses Pose High Flood Risk

As a homeowner in Brisbane, when you think of the potential for flood damage to your home, you probably think of weather events. But you should know that there may be a tickin...

Argan Oil-Infused Moroccanoil Shampoo: Nourish and Revitalize Your Hair

Are you ready to transform your hair from dull and lifeless to vibrant and full of life? Look no further than the luxurious embrace of Argan Oil-Infused Moroccanoil Shampoo! In a...

Times Magazine

"Eternal Nurture" by Cara Barilla: A Timeless Collection of Wisdom and Healing

Renowned Sydney-born author and educator Cara Barilla has released her latest book, Eternal Nurture, a profound collection of inspirational quotes designed to support mindfulness, emotional healing, and personal growth. With a deep commitment to ...

How AI-Driven SEO Enhancements Can Improve Headless CMS Content Visibility

Whereas SEO (search engine optimization) is critical in the digital landscape for making connections to content, much of it is still done manually keyword research, metatags, final tweaks at publication requiring a human element that takes extensiv...

Crypto Expert John Fenga Reveals How Blockchain is Revolutionising Charity

One of the most persistent challenges in the charity sector is trust. Donors often wonder whether their contributions are being used effectively or if overhead costs consume a significant portion. Traditional fundraising methods can be opaque, with...

Navigating Parenting Arrangements in Australia: A Legal Guide for Parents

Understanding Parenting Arrangements in Australia. Child custody disputes are often one of the most emotionally charged aspects of separation or divorce. Parents naturally want what is best for their children, but the legal process of determining ...

Blocky Adventures: A Minecraft Movie Celebration for Your Wrist

The Minecraft movie is almost here—and it’s time to get excited! With the film set to hit theaters on April 4, 2025, fans have a brand-new reason to celebrate. To honor the upcoming blockbuster, watchfaces.co has released a special Minecraft-inspir...

The Ultimate Guide to Apple Watch Faces & Trending Wallpapers

In today’s digital world, personalization is everything. Your smartwatch isn’t just a timepiece—it’s an extension of your style. Thanks to innovative third-party developers, customizing your Apple Watch has reached new heights with stunning designs...

LayBy Shopping