Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Waste Reduction Week in Canada, the City of Peterborough has announced a new partnership with Hellmann’s Canada in support of food waste awareness.
Over the next three months, half of the City’s waste collection vehicles will be sporting a new look, with a creative message from Hellmann’s on the driver side of the vehicles. The tongue-in-cheek message provides an important educational perspective on food waste:
‘This is Canada’s Most Popular Food Truck. Unfortunately. 58% of Food produced in Canada gets thrown out.’
“Thank you to Hellmann’s for sharing this important message through a sponsorship initiative. Bringing attention to food waste is the first step to changing our behaviours,” said Councillor Gary Baldwin, Chair of the City’s waste management portfolio. “From meal planning, to cooking, to left-overs and composting, we need to be conscious of reducing food waste, and diverting it from the landfill in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
City residents are encouraged to minimize the amount of food waste they place in their regular garbage by participating in the City’s back yard composting program, which provides cost-subsidized composters for sale to local residents at City Hall, 500 George St. N., or at the Household Hazardous Waste Depot, 400 Pido Rd. More information is available on the City’s website at www.peterborough.ca/waste.
“At Hellmann's we believe food is too good to be wasted, so we’re thrilled to partner with the City of Peterborough to help educate Canadians about food waste in this unique way via Canada’s most popular food truck, the garbage truck,” said Kristen Denega, Senior Brand Manager, Hellmann’s Canada. “Canada is one of the worst offenders when it comes to food waste with almost two-thirds of food thrown away still being edible. We hope this partnership encourages City residents and passers by to learn more, either through our website or the City’s, and take action.”
In addition to food waste reduction, the City is also focused on the diversion of food waste from landfill with a new organic waste collection and processing program. Work continues on a new source separated organics food diversion program.
The City of Peterborough GROW (Green Resource Organics Waste) is on target for a Fall 2023 implementation. Residents can learn about the GROW project and the City’s efforts towards Zero Waste at www.peterborough.ca/grow.
Waste Reduction Week in Canada runs from October 18 to 22, 2021. The program focuses on the principles of circular economy, resource efficiency, and waste reduction. Waste Reduction Week celebrates our environmental efforts and achievements while encouraging new innovative ideas and solutions.