WasteLess
WasteLess is a group of volunteers from the inner north promoting food waste reduction in Canberra. One way to do this is for people to start using the ShareWaste app.
This app allows people to share food scraps with their neighbours.
It allows people to identify themselves as having food scraps that they can’t compost and other people to identify themselves as willing to take food scraps for their compost bin. If you are wanting to take food scraps, the app allows you to connect to others in your local area who have food scraps they don’t want -find out more about Share Waste here
Peter Le Cornu, the group’s founder says “The problem with the app is that not enough people know about it.”
The WasteLess group will letterbox all houses in the suburb of Downer in order to increase awareness of reducing food waste and using the Sharewaste app. We need people who are willing to spend one hour in the week starting 20 May to distribute leaflets in the suburb of Downer. You can do it at any time during that week that suits you.
If you can assist, please contact Peter LeCornu at peter.lecornu@gmail.com.
Helpful tips from the SEE-Change WasteLess group on reducing your waste
reducing food waste by worm farming:
You can reduce the food waste that goes into landfill by establishing a worm farm or Bokashi bucket. You don’t need to buy an expensive one in shops – you can make your own.
Worm farms are a great way of getting rid of your vegetable and fruit scraps (except citrus peels and onions). Worm tea and castings make wonderful fertilisers for your plants.
Here are several ideas on how to make your own worm farm. Happy farming!
reducing food waste by using a Bokashi Bucket:
Want to reduce your contribution to greenhouse gases and at the same time nourish your plants? The Bokashi fermentation method of composting is relatively odourless so can be kept indoors and composts all food waste, including dairy and meat waste.
Make your own, cheap, Bokashi system with a couple of food safe plastic buckets with tight fitting lids, a tap and a packet of Bokashi starter from Bunnings. Easy instructions at this link.
reducing pet waste by using a Digester:
Have a pet and you don’t want to put your pet poo in the compost bin. Here is a great way to put your pet’s poo to use in the garden instead of putting it into rubbish/landfill. Because pet poo can continue nasty bacteria etc, best place the digester in the garden away from the veggie patch.
WasteLess group focuses on food waste
One of the priorities of the SEE-Change WasteLess group in 2019 is to encourage Canberrans to reduce food waste going into landfill. The group is writing to the ACT Government requesting that green bins be able to include food waste. This is currently allowed by many local Councils across Australia. Whilst this has been identified by ACT Government as a future activity, it is unlikely to happen during the term of the current Government.
One of the most effective strategies to reducing food waste going into landfill is to ensure it is composted. Many Canberra houses have compost bins, worm farms or Bokashi bins. But, not everyone. Wouldn’t it be great if people who don’t have compost bins could drop off their food waste to someone who is composting and wants more food waste for their compost bins?
That is the idea behind the ShareWaste app, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Sharewaste aims to connect people who wish to recycle their kitchen scraps with their neighbours who are composting, worm-farming or keeping chickens. Waste can be diverted whilst providing an opportunity for people to get to know their neighbours. It is a very simple process to sign up to be a donor or to receive kitchen scraps.
The WasteLess group has decided to encourage more Canberrans to download the app and start sharing their food waste. The end result will be reduced food waste going into landfill.
Have you downloaded the ShareWaste app onto your phone? If you have, let us know your experiences with it.
Did you get more kitchen waste for your compost bin? Did it allow you to get your kitchen scraps into composting instead of putting them in the bin?
How did you encourage your neighbours to share their waste?
Send your feedback to peter.lecornu@gmail.com.