HUNGER relief charity Foodbank WA has been named as a finalist in one of Australia’s best-known environmental awards programs, the Banksia Environmental Awards, for its efforts to reduce food waste and implement recycling strategies.
Foodbank WA chief executive Greg Hebble said the Banksia Awards finalists represented the best sustainable practices in Australia, with Foodbank WA one of only two finalists from Western Australia.
“Each year Foodbank WA supplies the equivalent of more than five million meals to people in need,” Mr Hebble said. “In most cases this is from food otherwise destined for landfill. Food and packaging that is damaged or spoiled is utilised in re-use and recycling activities such as animal feed and composting.”
He said the award recognised that, in addition to fighting hunger, the organisation had a positive impact on the environment.
“The fight against hunger begins with eliminating food waste and ensuring excess food is donated not dumped,” Mr Hebble said
“We have many great food companies supporting us with donations, however, there is still a lot of food being wasted that could be saved from landfill and provided to people in need.”
During the past two years, Foodbank WA has saved more than 46,000 cubic metres of food from landfill, and 930 cubic metres of spoiled food and packaging being recycled.
