A real ‘pizza’ work – rescuing food to reduce waste

by Angus Delaney

Every year millions of Australians go hungry and yet over 5 million tonnes of food goes to landfill – meet the companies that are bridging the gap by giving food a second life, and families a meal. 

When the bakery lights dim, the restaurant doors close and the conversation of customers is gone, hospitality businesses all across Australia will throw out untouched surplus food. 

This food then takes a trip to the landfill, where it releases methane gas and causes irreversible damage to the environment. 

At the same time, thousands of Australians will go hungry without access to food.

Leading Australian food rescue company OzHarvest noticed this worrying trend and dedicated the organisation to giving otherwise wasted food to those in need.

“If you’re a registered business with quality surplus food you go on our website and fill out a form,” says OzHarvest Nations Media and Communications Manager Fiona Nearn. 

“The benefit is that it saves them the cost of disposing of surplus food, and they’re upholding their commitment to sustainability by keeping food out of land fill.”

“It’s a win/win situation.”

OzHarvest has partnered with over 1600 charities across Australia to provide meals and operates two food markets in Sydney where they can provide food directly to those in need. 

“It is a take what you need, give what you can philosophy,” says Nearn. “Basically, it’s stocked full of fresh produce so that is available directly to anyone who needs it.”

OzHarvest also provides a range of educational programs to equip people with hospitality skills and teach them about correct food wastage methods. 

“We have a program called Nourish, which takes kids from a- risk backgrounds between 16-24 years and train them in a certificate of hospitality and run it in conjunction with education providers,” says Nearn. “We help them get pathways to employment and work experience.”

“We also run a curriculum aligned program for primary school kids called FEAST, teaching them how to waste less and become change makers in their local communities.

Another food rescue service is the innovative app Bring Me Home, which the Herald Sun called ‘one of the best apps of 2019.’


Bring Me Home contains listings of surplus food from registered cafes and restaurants throughout Melbourne and Sydney at a heavily discounted price.


The app aims to reduce food waste in retail,” says Rinaldhy Oosterman, Head of Growth and Marketing. “If there is left over food after main rush hour, a restaurant or café can list that on the app to prevent food waste and also maximise their sales.”

 

Oosterman explains that Bring Me Home delivers benefits to both customers and consumers – as well as the obvious environmental benefits.

 

“Bring Me Home aims to change how they think about it, you can operate at zero waste, or minimal waste, it reduces how much they impact the environment and how much financial impact is made. It’s also a good marketing tool to … get new customers,” says Oosterman.

 

“For customers, you get food for up to 70% off and also help the environment. The app tracks how much money you save and also how much methane gas you have prevented entering the atmosphere.”

 

Although Bring Me Home is rescuing surplus food from landfill, it should be noted that all food is fresh and safe to eat.

 

“The food is listed right after peak period it is always during business hours,” says Oosterman. “It’s perfectly safe because it’s still within opening hours.”


Another organisation that rescues food from landfill is The Gift Of Bread, who provide those who need it with – you guessed it – bread; while also saving loaves from landfill.

 

“Fresh bread is collected directly from bakeries and taken to our community workshop at Tempe, or to our six outreach centres,” says Community Engagement Team Leader Kevin Ford.

 

“Loaves and rolls are delivered to various clients, such as soup kitchens, refuges, schools, boarding houses and individuals.”

 

The Gift of Bread have over 200 clients including charities and families and choose to give bread specifically for both its nutritional value and wealth of supply.

 

“Bread is the stuff of life and an important part of the diet in most cultures,” says Ford.

 

“There is a significant quantity of unsold bread at the end of the day. Without our intervention, that bread would go to landfill.”

 

As well as giving the gift of food and therefore slightly easing the financial strain on their clients, The Gift of Bread aims to forge relationships.

 

“Our mission is to build community, rather than just feed the needy,” says Ford.

 

“All of our drivers and delivery staff are encouraged to share a ‘moment of grace’ with our clients, to ask about their wellbeing and ensure that our delivery is meeting their needs.”

 

“Reactions to a gift of bread can vary from effusive thanks to a simple smile or a nod.”

 

OzHarvest, Bring Me Home and The Gift of Bread are all working tirelessly to give food a second life and reduce the environmental impact of food wastage, while benefitting their community.

 

However, food wastage is an issue that affects everyone, and an issue which everyone can help improve.

 

Fiona Nearn says, “everyone is part of the solution … it’s all about getting in good habits.”

 

“Look what is in your fridge or pantry before you go cooking, store it correctly, only buy what you need, use all the wilting vegetables in the bottom of the crisper and eat up leftovers.”

 

Whether it’s buying food without packaging, composting or using Bring Me Home, everyone can have an impact in reducing food wastage and cleaning up Australia. 

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