Four ways to avoid food waste this Christmas

Over the Christmas period Wellington City Council’s Capital Compost sees two extra trucks of food scraps every day, compared to the rest of the year. Darren Hoskins, Landfill Operations Manager, says his composting team see a huge amount of food that could have been eaten rather than thrown in the compost bin. 

Composting is an essential way to return the nutrients within food to the soil. However, the best way to save emissions, resources and money associated with food waste, is to only buy what you’ll eat, eat what you buy and share the rest. 

When kai is thrown into the rubbish, it ends up in landfill. Once in the landfill, it breaks down without air and produces methane, a contributor to global warming. 

Check out these great tips on how to avoid food waste from our waste minimisation team.  

1. Spend time meal planning 
2. Stick to your shopping list 
3. Plan for your leftovers 
4. Master the art of freezing 

See more below!

1. Spend time meal planning 

Spending just 30 minutes meal planning before Christmas can save you time, stress, money and waste. Start by planning “fridge harvest” meals to use up half-filled jars and sad fruits or vegetables. This will help de-clutter your fridge and make the most of what you have already brought.  

Next, create a rough meal plan for the days leading up to Christmas, incorporating a family favourite or a night for eating leftovers. This approach prepares your fridge and whanau for Christmas, by keeping things efficient and waste free.  

2. Stick to your shopping list 

This is simple - make a list and stick to it. Think about your meals, how many guests you’ll have, and only purchase what is needed.  

Before heading to the store, take a photo of your pantry so you can easily refer to it and avoid buying items you already have. Or try out online shopping where you can double check what items you already have in your fridge and pantry without doubling up. If you are unsure when or how you'll use an item, don’t buy it. And to avoid duplicate purchases, check in with family or friends about what they plan to buy. 

3. Plan for your leftovers 

How will you handle leftovers from your Christmas meal? If you are serving ham, turkey, or roast vegetables get creative with ways to use them in pizzas, wraps, or frittatas. For inspiration, try apps like SuperCook or Love Food Hate Waste (LFHW) for tips on making your food stretch further. 

Before Christmas gatherings, encourage guests to bring reusable containers for taking home leftovers. That way, if you end up with a lot of leftovers, your guests can help reduce waste by taking it home.  

And don’t forget to bring your own container to the work Christmas party! There’s bound to be extra food, and having a container on hand will help reduce waste and save you money by letting you take home some tasty kai. 

4. Master the art of freezing 

If you find yourself with more food than you can consume before it spoils—or if you're about to head out of town—don’t stress! Just pop it in the freezer. You'd be surprised at how much you can freeze, from ham and turkey to vegetables and even sweet treats. Freezing helps preserve food, reduce waste, and saves money on future meals. 

A great thing about Christmas is we can look back on past years and make improvements. Was the third pav necessary? Or perhaps you grew tired of eating ham leftovers long after Christmas? This year, consider tweaking your usual traditions to be kinder to both your wallet and the planet.  

Meri Kirihimete Wellington! For more information on freezing food safely, meal planning and cooking with leftovers, check out the Love Food Hate Waste website.