Food Waste Reduction

“Food Wise” in Hong Kong for consecutive 3 years through “Less Rice, please” 26th June, 2012
To raise public awareness of cherishing food and encourage reduction at source, as well as draw public attention to the problem of food waste, rebuild people’ s “Food Wise” habit, the Greeners Action, since 2009, implemented the first “Food Wise” day for consecutive 3 years. There was 149 catering participating in it, Staff canteens of New Territories West Cluster News being one of them offered one dollar discount for “less noodles order”. The Greeners Action hopes, through participating in the programme, caterings could reduce food waste thus save cost, consumers could enjoy the one dollar discount, Hong Kong landfills’ burden could be alleviated, so to achieve a 3-win situation.
Hong Kong produces over 3,327 tonnes of food waste every day, equivalent to the weight of 129 double-decker buses, which takes up over 30% of Municipal Solid Waste dumped also one in three landfills’ full capacity. The problem of food waste is serious. To encourage consumer to order food in suitable portion by saying “less rice, please” when necessary, the programme was run from initial the first Wednesday in a month to now every Wednesday per month. Tomorrow, 27th June, 2012, will be the “Food Wise Day”, people going to those participating caterings could enjoy one dollar discount by ordering “less rice”, the one-third amount of rice will be saved. Posters and cards on tables regarding the programme will be used to remind consumers about the new change. Apart from “less sweet” and “less ice”, people could now have “less rice” too.