Transcript Document

Waste No Food?
- food waste problem overview
(updated ver 10/2013)
Created by:
Why should we treasure food?
Food is precious
• There is increasing risk of crop failure in
many countries due to climate change, which
leads to a rise of food price and a risk of food
crisis.
• According to the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), 1/3 of food produced
worldwide is wasted (about 1.3 billion
tonnes), while 900 million people are
suffering from starvation.
Problem caused by food waste
• Hong Kong people disposed more than 9,000
tonnes of municipal solid waste each day.
(figure in 2011)
- about 3,600 tonnes are food waste, consisting 40% of
all municipal solid waste.
Increasing volume
• The amount of food waste from commercial
and industrial sectors rose from
405 tonnes in 2001 to
1056 tonnes in 2011
an increase of 2.6 times.
Figure: “Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong” , EPD
Hong Kong ranks the Top
Country/City
Hong Kong Singapore
(2009)
(2010)
Daily food waste 3,280
amount (tonne)
Per capita (kg)
0.47
0.47
Taiwan
(2009)
S. Korea
(2009)
1,754.8
7,941
14,118
0.35
0.34
0.29
Early retirement of 3 landfills…
Latest projected year :
2014-2018
• Accelerating global warming
- The decomposition of food waste in landfills
generates methane, which has a warming impact 21
times that of carbon dioxide.
- The mass release of methane will aggravate global
warming and accelerate climate change.
• Difficulty in Processing Food Waste
- Need large piece of land for landfilling
- High cost for additional infrastructure required to
land-fill wet food waste
- Wet and saline food waste shortens the lifespan of
infrastructure (e.g. Incinerator)
• Odor nuisance:
– The process of decomposition of food waste can
create bad smells causing nuisance to those
living near landfills.
– In a crowded Hong Kong it is becoming harder
and harder to find space for landfill expansion.
– That is why communities show strong opposition
to landfill expansion plans.
News:
http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20130830/00176_015.html
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20121220/18107833
http://news.sina.com.hk/news/3/1/1/2565500/1.html
http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20100805/00176_027.html
http://www.hkheadline.com/news_topic/nt_content.asp?sid=13457&nt=
np
Where does the food waste
come from?
Think about it:
• Do you think food wastage problem is
serious in Hong Kong?
• Have you ever wasted any food?
• Why you discard it? Does it really deserve to
be abandoned?
• Who is wasting the most?
Types of food waste
Avoidable
Possibly
avoidable
Food thrown away
that was once
edible (e.g.
leftovers and
excess food)
Food that is
consumed only by
some people (e.g.
side dishes, bread
crusts, potato skins)
Unavoidable
Foods no longer
edible generally
(e.g. bones &
egg shells)
Food Waste Generation
• ~70% - Domestic
• ~30% - Industrial and Commercial
(including fast food chains, restaurants,
hotels, bakeries, supermarkets, markets and
food processing units)
Commonly Wasted Food in
Hong Kong
Banquets: According to a survey by FoE (HK) in 2010, each
banquet table generated about 3.8 kg. It was estimated
banquets in average generate 25 tonnes of food waste each day.
Supermarkets: According to another survey by FoE (HK)
conducted in May, 2012, it was estimated that the four biggest
supermarket groups generated 87 tonnes of food waste each day.
You and Me?
• Only 65% of people in HK usually/ always
finish all ordered food when they dine out.
(Data source: Greeners Action)
Reasons to discard food…
• Too cheap in price
• Being a bad eater
• Want to show hospitality (to order more than
needed)
• Cumbersome to take away the leftovers
• Allowing food to expire (buy too much at a time)
Think about it:How to reduce
food waste?
Individual
Corporate
sector
Government
policy
Food
Industry
School
(1) “Waste No Food” Education
(Reduce from source)
“Waste No Food” Actions
• Do you know what they mean?
Think about it:
Chinese people value hospitality and see
themselves as impolite if the amount of food
provided is not large enough. As a result,
there is usually loads of leftovers.
 How to convince them to order less?
Thinking about it:
Banquets usually generates a lot of food
waste, but most people are not willing to take
away leftovers. Do you have any idea to
reduce food waste from banquets?
(2) Donation of food surplus
environmental + community concern
a sample from a refuse station
• More and more local charities collect
unwanted food from markets or hotels and
provide meals for the needy. This attempt
supports the underprivileged, while
relieving the pressure on our landfills.
Thinking about it:
Supermarkets’ spokespeople said in previous
response to media that they would not
consider food donation even if the food is in
good condition. It is because of the liability
concern (e.g. legal dispute if recipient feel
unwell after eating the donated food).
Do you support their decisions?
Any possible solutions?
(3) Food Waste Recycle
•Enzyme Cleaning
Solution
•Energy generation
•Animal feeds
Food waste recycling bin in
Taiwanese home
Recycling rate of South
Korea exceeds 90%
Government policy support is essential
• Quantity-based waste charging
(economic incentive)
• All-rounded waste collection and
recycling system
• Food donation policy
Think about it:
• Do you agree with a waste charging scheme in
order to reduce food waste?
• Do you agree Hong Kong should implement
food waste recycling?
• What difficulty and challenge do you expect?
How can it be tackled?
Related materials
•
•
http://www.foe.org.hk/e/content/cont_page.asp?cat_id=51&content_id=345#.UkU2I9KBmfA
http://www.foe.org.hk/e/content/cont_page.asp?content_id=1389#.UkU1_9KBmfA
‘Waste No Food’ Campaign
• Aims:
– To promote ‘Waste No Food’ culture
– To recall the experience and hardship required in
growing food
– To encourage people to take actions in reducing
food waste in daily life
Activities
•
•
•
•
•
All schools in HK to echo World Food Day (16 Oct 2013)
Farming Marathon (Oct-Nov 2013)
Release of ‘Cherish Food’ Music Video (Oct 2013)
“Cherish Food’ Photo Exhibition (Oct-Nov 2013)
‘Order Less Waste Less’ (Oct, 2013 - Feb, 2014)
- a Light Banquet Campaign for corporate sector
• Public guided tour (Now to Mar 2013)
- To collect vegetable surplus from wet markets
- Visit a food waste recycle plant
• Publication: ‘Food waste to nice dishes’ cook book (late 2013)
• Publication: Where are our food from? E-book (early 2014)
• School/NGO ‘Food Angel Tour’ (2013-2014)
Please visit Friends of the Earth(HK)’s website
for more activities www.foe.org.hk/foodwaste
Every grain is from hard toil.
Please don’t waste food.
Produced and Copyright owned by:
www.foe.org.hk
2528 5588