Brisbane City Council is giving Brisbane residents a chance to Love Food and Hate Waste today, giving away 2500 pieces of banana bread in the Queen Street Mall, made from salvaged bananas, which would have otherwise gone to landfill.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the giveaway was a tasty reminder about the creative ways Brisbane residents can save edible food from their rubbish bin and contribute to a clean, green and sustainable city.

“Council’s Love Food Hate Waste initiative is helping residents minimise food waste with tips and tricks to reuse, prep and store food, which in turn will reduce the food going to landfill,” Cr Quirk said.

“Nearly one-third of household rubbish is food and every year Brisbane residents are throwing out more than 80 kilograms each.

“Visitors to the Queen Street Mall today will have the chance to savour some delicious banana bread, pick up an easy recipe and learn how to take Council’s six week Food Waste Challenge.”

Field Services Chairman Cr Peter Matic said that Council remained committed to reduce the amount of Brisbane food waste going to landfill, because it was the main contributor to greenhouse gases.

“Brisbane City Council is already Australia’s largest certified net carbon neutral organisation but we are always looking at new opportunities to further reduce the carbon footprint of Council and the community,” Cr Matic said.

“Food waste contributes to around 140,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas each year and reducing the 97,000 tonnes of food going to landfill will have an enormous impact on Brisbane’s sustainability.

“This financial year Council is investing $1.5 million into energy efficiency and emissions reduction projects in 2017-18, including solar power, energy efficient lighting and making our asphalt production plant more energy efficient.”

Cr Matic said the banana bread giveaway was part of Council’s wider Love Food Hate Waste initiative.

“Council is investing in the international Love Food Hate Waste movement to help empower Brisbane residents to reduce food waste at home and keep our city liveable and sustainable for future generations,” he said.

“We’re calling on residents to play their part in keeping our city clean, green and sustainable, by taking part in a six week challenge to reduce the amount of food they throw away in household rubbish.”

For more information visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call Council on (07) 3403 8888.