By Gabriella Payne
Each year in Australia, a huge amount of food that we buy ends up in the bin, and this is having a detrimental effect on our planet.
According to not-for-profit organisation OzHarvest, Australians waste 7.3 million tonnes of food annually, or “enough to fill 13,000 Olympic sized swimming pools” which in turn, produces harmful greenhouse gases that are directly contributing to climate change.
These shocking statistics are clearly a wake up call that something needs to change – but how can you and I do our bit to reduce food waste and help the planet?
Well, in a bid to combat this issue and reinvent the way we think about cooking, the Cardinia Shire Council are excited to launch a range of free, zero-waste cooking workshops for one and all to get involved in.
These environmentally-conscious classes will teach residents about the harmful impacts of food waste on the planet while simultaneously sharing a range of new recipes, tips and tricks that community members can put to use at home, in their own kitchens.
An experienced Open Table facilitator will be leading the classes, set to begin in August, and participants will learn how to save money on their grocery bills while reducing the amount of food they waste each year.
A fun, ‘no waste cooking demonstration’ will also be held to show some ingenious ways of using some of the foods that we most often throw away.
The first event is set to be held online on Monday 2 August between 7pm – 8pm, where participants will have the chance to cook along at home, while the second event will be held on the evening of Friday 6 August at the Pakenham Library and will showcase a unique ‘broccoli stem pesto’ recipe among others.
Spaces are limited and participants are required to register before the events, head to the Cardinia Shire Council website for more information.
