Abstract
Food waste is a ‘wicked’ problem that has environmental, economic, ethical, socio-cultural and resource management implications. It is becoming increasingly important within environmental policy planning around the world.
In New Zealand, young adults and large households have been identified as significant contributors to domestic food waste levels. Limited research has been done on the types of barriers to sustainable domestic food waste practices that these demographic groups experience. Dunedin’s tertiary precinct was selected as an ideal area for exploring such barriers due to its demographic trends.
The methods for data collection included an online survey open to residents of the tertiary precinct, complemented by interviews with key informants from a diverse range of positions within local institutions, local government, and student bodies. The research provided valuable insight into how several aspects of the local socio-cultural conditions, infrastructure, and the built environment hinder residents from minimizing domestic food waste and make it difficult for them to divert food waste from the landfill. Most of the barriers and issues that surfaced during this research are layered and inter-related to a high degree.
The timing of the research may be significant as several initiatives are in motion at both local government and tertiary institution level that have the potential to positively influence domestic food waste practices in the precinct. Recommendations were presented for how collaborative planning between actors can help address barriers to sustainable domestic food waste practices in the tertiary precinct and beyond.