Once you have decided to take on a food waste reduction focused initiative in your town, planning is key, as it ensures clear objectives and actionable steps. From raising awareness about the environmental and social impacts of food waste to providing practical solutions your community can implement at home or in local spaces there is plenty of work to do in creative ways to engage your community and local businesses.
Before you start engaging the wider community it's very important that your team comes together to discuss why this topic is important to you, both personally and as group. Finding your "why" when it comes to reducing food waste is crucial for driving meaningful change.
When people connect with a purpose, such as preserving the environment or supporting those in need, it transforms the task from a simple act to a shared mission. This sense of purpose not only strengthens community ties but also fosters a collective responsibility to make a real difference. According to the EPA, over 750,000 Tonnes of food was wasted in Ireland in 2022, with householders wasting the equivalent of €700 per annum! In this resource section you can find statistics, exercises and slides to use when trying to stimulate this discussion.
Involving your community from the outset helps ensure that the project reflects their needs and concerns, making it more likely to succeed. By seeking input through public meetings, surveys and focus groups, you can identify local challenges and opportunities. This early engagement not only empowers individuals but also encourages them to be invested in the project's outcomes, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration in the effort to reduce food waste.
We had two such meetings, one aimed at Producers and Farmers, and one directed at Retail, Restaurants and Hotels. Each steering group and town is different so make sure to discuss what strengths, challenges and opportunities are unique to your town, as well as what expertise and potential for collaboration is available from people in the room.
A first public meeting - a face to face public meeting is important to brainstorm and gather community ambassadors. To organise our first meeting we used local print and social media groups as well as posters to spread the word. We also contacted local community groups by phone and email to make sure they knew about the gathering.
In the Resources section here you will find slides with discussion points, questionnaires and statistics to help you prepare and engage with businesses. We had two such meetings, one aimed at Producers and Farmers, and one directed at Retail, Restaurants and Hotels. Each steering group and town is different so make sure to discuss what strengths, challenges and opportunities are unique to your town, as well as what expertise and potential for collaboration is available from people in the room.
This presentation can be edited or downloaded as a PDF to use as talking points with community groups or businesses
No community centred food waste reduction project will be complete without engagement from businesses. According to the EPA, food businesses, from farmers and producers to restaurants and hotels, are responsible for approx. 71% of all food waste generated.
This waste is complicated as the reasons are so multifaceted. By consulting with businesses early, you can ensure local businesses feel included and heard and your group can identify strategies which help minimise waste while meeting customer needs. This collaboration fosters a shared commitment to reducing food waste and benefits both businesses and the community.
Gathering business representatives for a first meeting - it is so important to ensure all local food related businesses are in the loop from the beginning. To organize our first meeting we used local print and social media groups as well as posters to spread the word. We also started a business database to keep track of all business interactions.
We visited in person when possible or made contact by phone or email to make sure they knew about the gathering. In the Resources section here you will find slides with discussion points, questionnaires and statistics to help you prepare and delivery your first community gathering. Each steering group and town is different so make sure to discuss what strengths, challenges and opportunities are unique to your town, as well as what expertise and potential for collaboration is available from people in the room.
Canva template file & downloadable PDF of case studies, worksheets and talking points for Food Waste Reduction in Food Business
A guide to inform people within the food service industry of the significant issue of food waste and the potential solutions. Created by Clean Technology Centre Cork
Business Engagement with Waste Not Want Not
Food waste reduction tips for business to share via social media. A link to editable Canva file, downloadable .zip file and word doc with ideas for captions.
Statistics to share via social media. A link to editable Canva file, downloadable .zip file and word doc with ideas for captions.
Involving all stakeholders in a community project is crucial for its success and impact. In ensuring that the voices of the community are heard and their perspectives respected you can build community ownership and support for the initiative and find locally relevant solutions.
The more stakeholders you can identify and engage with from the outset the better! By including a wide range of stakeholders you will hear diverse views and experiences of food waste, allowing you to anticipate challenges and adapt planned local initiatives accordingly.
Some stakeholders in a community food waste reduction project could be food businesses, including local farmers, food processors, supermarkets and restaurants, local groups such as Tidy Towns, Macra Na Feirme, the Men’s Shed, and local festival groups, as well as local schools, sports clubs, council and councillors. See our Resources section for templates you can use for mapping your stakeholders.
Work together to create a map of stakeholders, using paper, post-it-notes or online, this is best done collaboratively. Here are some steps to get you started:
Some stakeholders in a community food waste reduction project could be: food businesses, including local farmers, food processors, supermarkets and restaurants, local groups such as Tidy Towns, Macra Na Feirme, Womens’ & Mens’ Shed, and local festival groups, as well as local schools, sports clubs, council, and councillors.
A good place to start when looking for financial support for your community food waste reduction initiative is the local authority, who run several grants that you may be able to avail of.
For example many local authorities run an annual Circular Economy/Waste Prevention Grant through their environmental department. This is open to community groups and can be used to run food waste reduction workshops in your town or buy a composter or wormery for your group.
The grants are normally in the region of €1,000 - €2,000. Get in touch with the Environmental Awareness Officer in your local authority for details. For bigger projects the Community Climate Action Fund (CCAP) is a good option.
The CCAP is administered by each local authority in the country and the fund lists food and waste as a key topic for project funding. Local groups can apply for this funding and the funds range from support for small scale projects requiring less than €20,000, to medium scale projects: €20,000 to €50,000, to large scale projects: €51,000 to €100,000. To learn more speak with the Climate Action Officer in your local authority.
Pobal provides management and support services to circa 39 programmes, schemes and services on behalf of Government.
A network of community gardens with support and resources. "Our aim is to support and promote community gardens in Ireland and Northern Ireland and the organisation has grown from strength to strength."
"Do you represent a community or organisation looking to make a positive change? We love to talk to and partner with groups of people who share our mission of equality for all in thriving communities."
Link to Gov.ie overview of the Fund.
The Community Climate Action Programme: Climate Education, Capacity Building and Learning by Doing (Strand 2) is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
The project is delivered by the environmental NGO, VOICE, with support from locally based informal and formal partners.
VOICE is a member-based environmental Charity established in 1997. We currently focus our attention on waste and water issues. VOICE membership represents people from across Ireland and reflects the growing concern that Irish people have for the quality of their environment.
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