How much food waste does the Victorian commercial and industrial sector produce?
The commercial and industrial sector in Victoria wastes over 140,000 tonnes of food each year, producing 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas. What impact does putting food waste into landfill have on the environment? Landfilled food waste has a significant impact on the environment. Unfortunately, food waste does not compost easily in landfill, because it has no oxygen to assist it to break down. In fact, putting food waste in landfill often results in the production of methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than CO2. Food waste is also a major contributor to the formation of leachate, a liquid run-off common in landfills, which pollutes ground water (and eventually surface water). More than 500 kilograms of leachate are generated per tonne of food waste landfilled. Is donating food waste legal in Victoria? Yes, provided the food being donated is safe. To encourage businesses to donate food, the Victorian Government introduced the Wrongs & Other Acts (Public Liability Insurance Re
