Many of us don’t know where to begin and wrongly assume that the solution is onerous and that a big garden is an imperative. The good news is that it is easy to get started - and achievable for apartment dwellers! 

We've also got a hot tip of how you can get up to 80% off a compost unit, worm farm, or bokashi bin; delivered to your door!

No backyard? No worries! Get this free app that connects people who want to recycle their kitchen scraps with neighbours who are already composting, worm-farming or keeping chickens. Share Waste brings together hosts (who receive organic waste) with donors (who donate their organic waste) to process kitchen scraps into new soil.

45% of Australians admit to over-buying at the supermarket so shopping smart and thinking consciously about purchases is critical. Planning your meals ahead, taking an inventory of your fridge and pantry and forming a grocery list will not only help you save at the supermarket, but will mean forgotten foods don’t rot at the back of the fridge. 

Many retailers now offer discounted fruit and veges that have slight cosmetic blemishes, odd sizes or are otherwise unable to meet arbitrary cosmetic standards. Don’t worry - they taste the same! 

 Planning helps manage the budget, makes shopping easier and maximises foods that are high in nutrients, but lower in kilojoules while minimising wastage - win, win!

Love your leftovers! 18.1% of Australians cite having eyes bigger than their bellies as a factor in their food waste,   If you don’t eat everything you make, freeze it for later or use the leftovers as an ingredient in another meal. And this isn’t just at home – there’s no shame in asking for a to-go bag when out for dinner either.

The skin of many fruits and veggies are not only edible but are often jam-packed with nutrients like antioxidants, vitamins and minerals so including them in your meal plan is not only a step to cutting down your waste but has a tonne of added health benefits. If the idea of eating skin isn’t overall appealing, a cheeky hack is to chuck your excess – the stalks of greens, or the tops of carrots or strawberries or even over-ripe bananas  - in a nutrient-packed smoothie, rather than in the bin. 

Three quarters of Australians admit to binning food due to expiration and spoiling. There’s a big difference between “best before” and “use-by” dates. Best Before dates are a guide for when the food is not of the best quality anymore. This could mean that it has lost some nutritional value, but the food is still safe to eat. If something’s hit it’s Best Before date, use your senses to make sure it still smell, looks and tastes fine. If it’s bad, you’ll probably know immediately.

Use By dates on the other hand, are indicators of food safety. Meaning food past this date are not safe to eat and best discarded. Even if they still look, smell and taste alright, it’s best not to tempt fate. However, it’s possible to keep products for longer if frozen before their Use By dates.

Storing food correctly is another way to not only get the most out of your grocery shop but reduce waste too. Things like herbs will last longer wrapped in damp paper toweling and leafy greens should have any wilted leaves removed before storage. Refrigerating foods like tomatoes and cucumbers which should be kept at room temperature may seem intuitive but it’s a surefire way to reduce their lifespan. When in doubt, think about where you found them in the supermarket as an indicator.  

Herbs are one item highly perishable item that supermarkets seem to sell only in portion sizes five times too big. While growing your own vegetables may not be feasible for every home or lifestyle but a windowsill herb garden can keep your dishes tastier and mean you aren’t left with limp herbs without the excess waste that comes from supermarket sized portions, and you’ll be reducing plastic packaging too!

Australia has abandoned its goal of collecting food organic waste in kerbside bins by 2023, now aiming for all metropolitan households and businesses to be able to put food in their green bins by the end of the decade.

We're calling on you to Step Up and make a pledge towards reducing your waste contribution! Could you Step Up by saying no to straws? To bringing your own waterbottle? To composting? To buying recycled, to choosing not to buy fast fashion or refusing to purchase fruit and vegetables pre-wrapped in plastic? 

There are so many ways to Step Up! And thousands of small steps together, make a big difference! Together we can all be part of the solution.