Wasted food is an urgent, but solvable, global challenge. According to the
National Zero Waste Council, more than half of all food produced and distributed in Canada never gets eaten, resulting in significant environmental, economic and social consequences. In Metro Vancouver, compostable organics, including edible food, made up 22% of the garbage, according to the
2024 waste composition study.
Metro Vancouver is acting to prevent wasted food in the region through the programs below.
Food waste prevention
Diverting wasted food to composting is better than disposing of it (e.g., sending it to a landfill), but preventing food from being wasted in the first place is an even better way to lessen our impact on the environment.
Metro Vancouver is a member of the national “Love Food Hate Waste Canada” campaign, which aims to inspire and empower people to make their food go further and waste less.
Food recovery
Metro Vancouver is updating its solid waste management plan with the goal of reducing solid waste and related emissions through a transition to a circular economy. Food recovery efforts prevent unsold food from going to waste or compost, avoid greenhouse gas emissions, and create jobs.
Metro Vancouver has a contract with FoodMesh to increase food recovery in the region. The Food Recovery Network project helps Metro Vancouver-based food businesses divert their unsold food from going to waste or compost in a safe, cost effective, and convenient way.