South Africa – Tuesday, December 19, 2023
With the holiday season often being a time of abundance and indulgence, the City of Cape Town has urged residents to join in the effort to reduce food waste during the upcoming Christmas celebrations .
Member of Mayoral Committee for Urban Waste Management, Grant Twigg, warned that food waste is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbates the effects of climate change .
“When food is wasted, not only are valuable resources such as water, energy and land wasted, but when leftovers and scraps end up in landfill, they produce a potent greenhouse gas that can accelerate climate change .
“The city encourages residents to practice careful planning when it comes to their holiday meals .
Smart shopping and thoughtful meal preparation can help avoid overstocking and excess consumption,” Twigg said .
Tips to reduce food waste during the holiday season:• Plan meals and shopping lists: Plan your meals in advance and create a detailed shopping list .
This way, you can avoid overbuying and ensure you only purchase what you need .
• Buy locally and seasonally: Support local farmers and reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation by choosing locally-grown and seasonal produce .
• Proper storage: Store food correctly to extend its shelf life .
Ensure refrigerated items are kept at the appropriate temperature and use the first-in, first-out method when organising your pantry .
• Be mindful of your fridge/freezer capacity, when stocking up on fresh fruit and vegetables, to minimise unnecessary spoiling of unused vegetables, • Portion control: Be mindful of how much food you cook and serve .
Start with smaller portions and allow guests to serve themselves second helpings if desired .
This will minimise leftovers and reduce waste .
• Be creative with re-using leftover food: There are options to make leftovers into new and exciting dishes to enjoy, rather than just throwing them out .
• Composting: Consider composting at home .
Composting food scraps not only reduces landfill waste but also creates nutrient-rich compost that can be used to nourish plants and gardens .
Twigg reminded businesses to come up with alternative plans to landfill, when disposing of organic waste .
Since the adoption of the amended Integrated Waste Management By-Law in 2009, every business in Cape Town has been required to develop integrated waste management plans (IWMP) to cover all aspects of waste management .
– SAnews .
gov .
za
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