Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 January 2017
560. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated amount of food waste generated here, with a breakdown by sector; the steps he is taking to promote the reduction of such waste; and the targets and timelines he is working to. [2876/17]
View answerIn terms of available data, Ireland generates approximately 1.1 million tonnes of food waste per year. Around 40% of this, or 450,000 tonnes, comes from food production; 34%, which equates to 380,000 tonnes, comes from the commercial sector; and, 26%, or 300,000 tonnes, comes from households. The European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-waste) Regulations 2015 and the commercial Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009 both aim to maximise the resource potential and minimise the disposal of food waste. These two sets of regulations place clear obligations on waste collectors, businesses and households to promote the segregation and recovery of food waste for the purposes of producing energy, compost and digestate, thereby supporting job creation in the waste and bio-energy sectors.
Through preventing food waste, and becoming more efficient in using what we have, Ireland can reduce the environmental impacts associated with food waste, improve the financial performance of businesses and householders alike, and help those who struggle to put food on the table. Reuse is the next favourable waste management option of the waste hierarchy and donation of surplus food has a role to play in the reduction of food waste. It is also important to communicate a clear and consistent message, promoting the food waste management hierarchy as an integrated solution rather than promoting a single option over another. Ireland is already making significant strides in this area and through the EPA-led National Waste Prevention Programme (NWPP), has been working on food waste prevention in partnership with many stakeholders since 2009. A national Forum on Food Waste is scheduled for March, 2017 to bring together stakeholders from across the food cycle with the specific focus of exploring a collaborative approach to reducing waste food.
"Stop Food Waste" is a national food waste prevention programme, whose aim is to raise awareness and enable initiatives to promote changes in behaviour, through a combination of education, training, local champions, peer example and easy to use information. The programme is aimed at householders and individuals, and small businesses such as cafés, pubs serving food and small local supermarkets.
