Diners in the Cessnock Local Government Area are encouraged to take home doggy bags as part of an initiative to cut down on food waste.
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The idea that food vendors are not allowed to give people take-home containers is incorrect and authorities want to spread the word that doggy bags are completely acceptable.
Council and 30 participating food businesses in Cessnock are taking part in the Wise on Waste initiative to assess food waste and spoilage.
Since August, the council’s Wise on Waste project officer Abbie Bagnall has been completing waste audits on food businesses across the Cessnock Local Government Area.
Council environment and waste manager Michael Alexander said the audits have surprised many businesses by showing them exactly how much waste their business is generating as well as the source of the waste.
“We are out there talking to businesses and providing them with suggestions and strategies to effectively reduce food waste and also to increase the rate of recycling in their operations,” Mr Alexander said.
“This will benefit us all with less waste going to landfill.”
The next phase of the Wise on Waste project is the Can’t Finish Your Meal campaign.
Targeted at consumers the campaign will help reduce food waste by encouraging people to take uneaten food home in a doggy bag.
The NSW Food Authority states that as long as food vendors are not allowed to give people take-home containers, reheated correctly and eaten with 24 hours, doggy bags are completely acceptable.
Council said there is no stipulation on whether food is dispensed into a container by the food provider or the consumer.
It can be done by the operator in the kitchen as long as they do not touch the food with their hands, or at the table by the consumer.
Once the food is taken from the premises the onus is on the consumer to ensure proper refrigeration and heating.