St. Pölten (OTS) – Christmas is just around the corner, accompanied by bright lights and richly laid tables. In a world where a third of food is wasted every year, there is an opportunity to think about how we can make Christmas more environmentally friendly. In Austria, around 270,000 tons of food waste is generated annually in private households, half of which is avoidable. Looking at Lower Austria, 166 tonnes of food waste ends up in the residual waste (55 percent) and in the organic waste bin (45 percent) every day.
LH deputy Stephan Pernkopf emphasizes: “The past and current crises worldwide have shown us how valuable the availability of food is, which must also be reflected in our behavior. Avoiding waste not only helps the environment, but can also increase regional added value if resources saved through careful handling of food are then used to purchase regional and healthy products.
He also affirms: “Our farmers produce the best food and their ecological balance is also miles better. For every agricultural product from overseas there is a regional alternative. Anyone who buys supposedly trendy foods from distant countries also imports thousands of transport kilometers and lower environmental standards. Food is therefore far too valuable to end up in the trash.
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LAbg. Anton Kasser, President of the Lower Austrian environmental associations adds: “By shopping consciously, storing things correctly and using leftovers creatively, we can not only protect the environment, but also ease the burden on our wallets. This could save households an average of around 300 euros per year on food costs.
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Questions & Contact:
Katharina Wutzl, MA
Public relations work by the Lower Austrian environmental associations
Tel.: +43 2742 23 00 60 – 206
E-Mail: katharina.wutzl@umweltverbaende.at