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Positive Partnership

When The Great Unwaste teamed up with WA’s WasteSorted program , they launched a pioneering initiative. WasteSorted, a Waste Authority program overseen by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), is designed to help West Aussies reduce waste and improve recycling habits. The activities run by The Great Unwaste and WasteSorted together marked the first state government-led adoption of the Australia-wide campaign.

Spotlight on the Opportunity

Households are responsible for one-third of Australia’s total food waste, spending an average of about $2,500 annually on food that never reaches the table. At the same time, one in five Australians experiences food insecurity.

 

This partnership recognises the scale of the challenge and the opportunity to support West Aussies to waste less, save money and make the most of the food they buy.

Turning Awareness into Action

The Great Unwaste and DWER delivered a WasteSorted co-branded, statewide rollout of the national campaign, with grassroots engagement and a strong WA lens. The goal: inspire behaviour change through practical tools, local involvement and community-driven experiences.

 

Highlights from the first phase of rollout included:

 

• A major launch event at the WA Waste and Resource Recovery Conference, featuring Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn MLC, End Food Waste Australia CEO Tristan Butt and Foodbank CEO WA Kate O’Hara.
• The event included interactive experiences including a delicious ‘unwasted’ minestrone demonstration by Maria Kane, Sous Chef at Epicurean Crown Perth, the thought provoking ‘invisible waste’ trolley display and the popular I’m a Great Unwaster photo booth.
• The conference included a breakout session where local governments shared how they are supporting The Great Unwaste by delivering food waste education and engagement initiatives to their communities.

Community Engagement across WA

Following the launch, a coordinated program of activities reached households statewide:

 

• Awareness-raising opportunities at the Perth Royal Show, including a Great Unwaste-themed takeover of the Grazelands Stage, led by Foodbank WA with support from MasterChef’s Alex Crisp, and the I’m a Great Unwaster photo booth joining the Foodbank WA interactive food stall.
• 12 Unwasting Workshops in partnership with Foodbank WA delivered across metropolitan and regional WA in collaboration with the Cities of Vincent, Rockingham, Swan, Joondalup, Fremantle, Karratha, Bayswater, Bunbury, Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, WA Museum Boola Bardip and Geraldton Museum.
• Digital media partnerships with Urban List and So Perth.
• Local Great Unwasters sharing their top tips for avoiding food waste across their social channels, including Alex Crisp, Roc Candy’s Andy Conlin, Knutsford Gourmet’s owner and chef Lisa Richards, , Dwight Alexander from Peasants Paradice, local government councillor Karen Wheatland, and Lindsay Miles from Treading My Own Path.

To strengthen grassroots involvement, WA councils received welcome kits containing resources and tools to support local activations. To date, 38 of 139 local governments (representing 1.9 million West Aussies) have joined The Great Unwaste Partner Hub to access additional materials and guidance for running workshops, localised marketing campaigns and community activities. As local custodians of the campaign message, these stakeholders play a key role in amplifying The Great Unwaste across their communities, extending its impact well beyond the initial program of activities.

Driving Change Through Collaboration

This partnership shows what’s possible when government, industry, non-profit stakeholders, community organisations and households work together. By aligning local action with a national movement, WasteSorted and The Great Unwaste are helping Western Australians build long-lasting habits that reduce household food waste, save money and benefit the environment.

Western Australia is demonstrating true leadership and setting a powerful example for other states to follow.