Blog

Workshops Turning Food Waste Around

Residents took part in a mix of topics, including:

• Plan It Like You Mean It – Simple tools for flexible meal planning, storing food correctly and shopping the kitchen first.
• Cooking with Leftovers – A practical cooking demo showing creative ways to use what you already have.
• Conscious Cooking (Youth Program) – A 4-week program teaching young people how to cook low-cost meals and turn leftovers into something delicious.
• From Scraps to Sustainability – Understanding what goes in the green organics bin and exploring composting, worm farms and backyard chooks.
• Affordable Onkaparinga Forum – A community-wide conversation about food waste, ideas and solutions.

Workshops were delivered by council staff and external experts, making each session practical, friendly and full of easy take-home tips.

Using The Great Unwaste Partner Hub

The council used several The Great Unwaste Partner Hub resources, including handouts and slide decks, and adapted workshop flyers to better suit each event.

What the Community Had to Say

Feedback from City of Onkaparinga residents was fantastic. Participants loved the simple tips, relatable content and the chance to learn in a relaxed, supportive setting. Many left feeling inspired to make small changes with big impact.

These kinds of “aha” moments – whether it’s rediscovering the broccoli stem or digging out forgotten freezer meals – highlight just how effective practical learning can be.

What’s Next?

With so much positive feedback, City of Onkaparinga is already planning more sessions. Coming up next year is another Cooking with Leftovers workshop, with interest growing in expanding the Conscious Cooking Youth Program across more local centres. There’s also strong community interest in a new idea: Cooking for One, designed to support solo cooks with practical, low-waste meal inspiration.