Zero Household Food Waste - Fredericton Climate Hub

Did you know reducing food waste can save families money and protect our environment?

The Zero-Waste Household Pilot Project engaged local households to reduce food waste, save on grocery budgets, and lower environmental impacts.

Project Overview and Goals

Target group: Enlisted 25 to 50 households in the local area.

Core focus: Provided families with practical tools, strategies, and weekly “Tips & Tricks” to minimize avoidable food waste at home.

Community engagement: Utilized surveys and active participant feedback to measure behavioral shifts and assess household waste reduction.

This project was made possible by a grant from the City of Fredericton and Mitacs.

Why the Zero-Waste Household Project Matters

Creating a more sustainable Fredericton starts at home. Every day, the choices we make about what we buy, use, reuse, recycle, and compost have a direct impact on our community and the environment.

The Zero-Waste Household Project empowers residents with practical tools and knowledge to reduce waste, conserve resources, and rethink everyday consumption. By helping households divert more materials from the landfill, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, extend the life of our landfill, protect natural resources, and build a stronger circular economy.

Making the most of what we throw away

A Fredericton city waste audit conducted in November 2024 found that 60% of what residents put in the trash could be diverted—through cash redemption, recycling, home composting, or donation.

A significant portion of this waste is organic material, such as food scraps. Instead of sending these valuable resources to the landfill, they can be composted and transformed into nutrient-rich compost for gardens and plants.