Energy » Sift Blog

Source: Myzerowaste.com

I feel it might be time to start the mantra “Waste Not, Want Not” again after reading the below article from the NZ Herald on New Zealander’s wasting $750million in food a year. That is massive. Think of all the wasted energy in labour, food growth (sun, water), chemicals, fuel for tractors, fuel for ships to bring some of it here, transportation, energy used in our distribution warehouses, energy used in our supermarkets, energy used in getting to the supermarket, waster $ in our spending, the energy used by our refrigerators and freezers (for those products stored in the fridge/freezer), the human energy to throw it out and then the ultimate waste of it going to landfill (some still wrapped in plastic no doubt) and the energy it takes to pick it up from the kerb, truck it to our transfer stations and then to Kate Valley where it sits. Or hopefully, some it is going in the green bin or being composted.

Not really an efficient use of our resources.

It is interesting to read that in Britain they are reviewing their labelling standards to improve consumer education on when the food is good till. This is worth doing here (along with carbon information in its manufacturing/production and distribution).

NZ Herald: Study, $750 million wasted on food by Martin Johnston and Isaac Davison

Kim Hill also interviewed the Australian economist, Richard Denniss, quoted in the NZ Herald article on her show on Saturday morning (Radion New Zealand). Mr Denniss discusses the survey that was conducted and what we can do to reduce that waste (and other wasted items such as “things” and “stuff” that we think we need and never use). Hmm.. again it seems to be coming back to reducing our consumption to reduce our impact on the environment and reduce our carbon emissions.

Download the mp3 podcast of that interview.