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Guelph Food WasteResearch Project

Vivian De GiovanniCity of Guelph

MWA Spring Workshop May 2014

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The 5 W’s• What is the Food

Waste Research Project?

• How, when and where was the project undertaken?

• Why did we conduct the project?

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3Weighing the bags at the curb

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Food Waste Behaviours, Attitudes and Beliefs

• Waste overview• Identifying waste• Food Habits• Attitudes toward waste

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Demographics and Average Waste• How many people are

in your household? Average: 3.3; Median: 3; Mode: 2; Range: 1-9

• How many children in your home are under the age of 18? Average: 1; Median: 0; Mode: 0; Range: 0-3

• Average total weekly waste – 31.2 kg– Clear bag – 7.1 kg– Blue bag – 11.6 kg– Green bag – 12.5 kg

• Average per capita weekly waste – 10.2 kg– Clear bag – 2.2 kg– Blue bag – 3.8 kg– Green bag – 4.2 kg

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Hshd Waste Management Behaviours• 1) How do you dispose of food waste in your home? • a) green bag (Y 100%/N 0%)• b) garbage bag (Y 39%/N 61%)• c) backyard/indoor composter (Y 13%/N 87%)• d) garburator/sewage system (Y 12%/N 89%)• e) feed domestic / wild animals (Y 20%/N 80%)• f) take food waste directly to landfill/transfer station

(Y 15%/N 85%)

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Types of Waste

Regularly Sometimes Infrequently Never0

102030405060708090

Trim/InedibleSpoiledNot likeBest BeforeOver Prep

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How Do You Decide What to Discard?

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100

AppearanceSmellTasteBest BeforeNo one wantsDays in Fridge

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Gardens, Fridges, Shopping

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Food Waste

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Who is Responsible to Reduce Food Waste

Indivi

duals

Stores

Farmers

Manufa

cturer

s

Govern

ment

Restau

rants

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1st2nd3rd4th5th

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Next Steps – Wish List• Still on bags - Phase 3: collect weights

from 300 hshds and follow-up survey• Carts – Phase 1 or 2: weigh contents

from 300 hshds, audit organics and garbage

• Re-weigh previous hshds, audit organics & garbage for behaviour change

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Vivian De GiovanniSupervisor, Program DevelopmentSolid Waste ResourcesCity of Guelph

vivian.degiovanni@guelph.ca