Hospitality students at three Hunter TAFE campuses will learn how to reduce food waste thanks to a state government grant.
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Hunter Councils’ environment division will sponsor the TAFE program using a $50,595 grant that Environment Minister Rob Stokes presented in Maitland yesterday as part of the Love Food, Hate Waste program.
From next April, students at the Maitland, Kurri Kurri and Ourimbah campuses will learn strategies on how to reduce food waste.
Hunter Councils’ Juliana Cain said Hunter TAFE had taken the unique approach of asking leaders from the hospitality industry to contribute and share their waste-reduction strategies.
“From a Hunter Councils perspective, we’ll be able to distribute [the strategy] to all of the councils to use as a resource for when they engage with businesses,” she said.
“It’s going to have many different avenues.”
Mr Stokes said food waste accounted for about 40 per cent of household bin contents that went to landfill.
“This is effectively encouraging the age-old virtue of thrift, of reaching our lifestyle aspirations by using less resources and not being wasteful,” he said.
“It’s a very simple message, but it’s one that is so important to reinforce. Waste is a tax on everybody.”
Maitland MP Robyn Parker said the program would encourage the trainees to increase efficiency in their work.
“This initiative shows that government, industry and the community can work together so that everybody wins,” she said.