Prevent food waste
Last updated on June 23, 2026By preventing food waste we are taking action at the highest level of the 5R pollution prevention hierarchy. Actions at this level (reduction), can have a far more significant impact than action at lower levels, as waste and pollution are addressed at their source.
For example, when food is wasted, both food and money are lost. The amount of food wasted in Canada is worth an estimated $31 billion annually (Value Chain Management International Inc., 2014).
In addition, all of the energy, water and other resources that have been used to produce the food are also wasted. Therefore, by reducing food waste, we can also reduce the amount of resources lost in its production, processing and distribution.
In B.C., organic waste currently represents 40% of material sent to our landfills. In turn, as this material decomposes, it generates a significant level of greenhouse gases which increase global warming and contribute to climate change. Globally, if food waste were represented as a country it would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter, behind China and the U.S. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2018).
B.C. local government waste composition studies show the levels of household food waste occurring in B.C. communities:
- Cowichan Valley Regional District Residential Food Waste Composition Study 2015 (PDF, 3.5 MB)
- Regional District of Nanaimo Waste Composition Study 2022 (PDF, 16MB)
Prevent residential food waste
Uneaten leftovers and spoiled food make up over 25% of the waste discarded from a household. While composting food waste is better than sending it to the landfill, preventing food from being wasted in the first place is the best solution.
There are a number of food waste prevention and redistribution initiatives including Love Food Hate Waste Canada, a national initiative led by B.C.-based FoodMesh, which partners with governments and industry to provide food waste prevention tools and strategies to Canadians across the country; apps like Too Good to Go that help people to access surplus food; and, BC Food Banks which redistributes food to those in need.
In addition, the Ministry has produced a Residential Food Waste Prevention toolkit (PDF, 7.4 MB) as a resource that helps local governments or non-governmental organizations address avoidable food waste from households. It describes different program models and their components, and provides guidance for identifying suitable approaches, based on a community’s size, capacity, and priorities.
- Learn more about Preventing Residential Food Waste
Prevent business food waste
Businesses in the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) sector generates a substantial amount of wasted food and packaging. Decreasing the amount of food waste and packaging could reduce waste disposal costs and protect the environment. The Ministry produced toolkits to assist retail, such as supermarkets and convenience stores, and food service providers, such as restaurants and drinking establishments, to help operators prevent food waste. This page also provides options for food donations.
- Learn more about Business Food Waste Tools & Food Donation Options
Resources
Support global and regional food waste reduction initiatives:
Learn more about Food Waste in Canada:
- Love Food Hate Waste Canada
- National Zero Waste Council
- Characterization and Management of Food Loss and Waste
- Wasted! The Story of Food Waste
- Fifteen Canadian Initiatives Trying to Reduce Food Waste
Educate residents to make purchasing decisions that prevent food waste:
Encourage citizen-led food waste reduction initiatives:
Learn more about food waste in B.C.’s restaurants, supermarkets, and other food operations and how simple operational controls can help prevent waste and increase profits.