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By Katlyn Eriksen

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: How to reduce food waste in Kamloops during the festive season

Dec 13, 2024 | 6:00 AM

Second Harvest (2024) reports that nearly 50 per cent of food in Canada is wasted, costing the country $58 billion yearly. Around 63 per cent of Canadians throw away food that could have been eaten, amounting to around 140 kilograms of wasted food yearly. The holiday season is particularly wasteful, since families often prepare copious feasts that could feed a significantly larger number of people. Wasting food hurts the environment and causes excess spending, but it doesn’t have to. Love Food Hate Waste Canada and the City of Kamloops are making it easy to “waste not, want not” during the holiday season.

Keeping Food Fresh

If you cook a large meal for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and the thought of consuming leftovers immediately doesn’t appeal, simply use your freezer and preserve a myriad of dishes for months to come. Love Food Hate Waste Canada has a handy fridge guide that provides advice on everything from how to store food (for instance, leftovers should be placed on the top shelf and raw fish, meat and seafood on the bottom shelf) to temperatures and separation of high ethylene foods (like apples, bananas and tomatoes) from other foods. Most cooked dishes can be frozen. Simply use an airtight container and/or wrap food in cling film then in aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Some foods do not freeze and thaw well, including soft cheeses, cooked pasta and rice and cooked potatoes.

Follow Kamloops’ Residential Collection Schedule

Around 42 per cent of Kamloops’ residential garbage is organic waste that can be composted. It is therefore vital to take advantage of the City of Kamloops’ waste collection program. Check out the City of Kamloops website to discover where Zones 1 to 5 are located. Use the organic cart for food scraps (including meat, fats and bones) and food-soiled paper. The full list of organics that can go in the organics cart can be found on Kamloops.ca/Organics. The list includes yard waste and pet-related waste such as pet food and treats, wood shavings in a paper bag, pet fur and animal bedding from pet cages. Take note of items that cannot be included in the cart, including plastics, styrofoam cups, food packaging, clothing, diapers, dirt and animal waste.

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Plan Your Meals Ahead

The City of Kamloops recommends planning your meals at least a week ahead of time. Make a shopping list and check your cupboards to see if any items need replenishment and commit to only buying what is on your list. It also recommends avoiding preparing too much food. If you are a wine collector, avoid opening various bottles for guests. Instead, store wines at optimal temperatures (between 50 and 60 degrees) and only open a new bottle when one is completely consumed. Keep unopened bottles in a dark place, away from the direct sunlight and store the bottle sideways to keep the cork moist.

Take Part in Kamloops’ Gleaning Abundance Program

Instead of spending large quantities of money on your Christmas shopping list, think of ways to source produce for free by taking part in the Gleaning Abundance Program. This initiative brings people together to harvest Kamloops’ local abundance of fruits and vegetables and share it with the greater community. Its main focus is fruit trees, but its members also glean farms and gardens. Anyone with an overabundance of produce can have their crops harvested and volunteers get freshly picked produce, while local community groups receive fruits and vegetables for their respective programs. For further information, contact gleaning@kamloopsfoodpolicycouncil.com.

Support Local Businesses

To prepare your festive meals, aim to shop for ingredients at local farmer’s markets or stores like Our Footprints Eco Store & Refillery, which focuses on zero-waste and other sustainable products. The Kamloops Regional Farmers’ Market, meanwhile, is an ideal place to access local produce, food and crafts, as well as dried and preserved goods. This indoor market opens from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturdays.

It’s easy to avoid food waste during the festive season if you plan ahead, take your waste to dedicated sites and look for ways to access food for free. Prepare only what you can reasonably eat and freeze leftovers or share unwanted food items with others. Aim to shop sustainably and support local farmers. Doing so is as good for the environment as it is for your community.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.