Reducing food waste, one community at a time

byAriana Koskela-Reyes

August 19, 2025

Donated produce. (Photo: Ariana Koskela-Reyes).

Bruised fruit, bread past its expiration date, and wilted kale.

At first glance, many people would throw this food away, adding to Australia’s massive food waste problem.

Each year, Australians discard 7.6 million tonnes of food, or approximately 312 kilograms per person.

This happens when items are left unharvested, get damaged, or are discarded by retailers and consumers.

At the Vincent Community Kitchen (VCK), surplus food finds a new purpose.

Residents and volunteers turn it into shared meals, transforming a global problem into a local solution.

‘Rescuing’ produce

By rescuing produce that would otherwise end up in landfill, VCK reduces food waste and carbon emissions while fostering connections across diverse cultural and social groups.

Volunteers use donations from The City of Vincent and befriends to prepare meals that bring the community together.

Founder Ms. Theresa Youngs-Lachmund says many businesses struggle to find sustainable ways to dispose of their food scraps.

“It is an outrageous amount of food that we are able to get from the various donors each month.

“I estimate that we save 150 kilos of food each month [and] we’ve prevented 29 tonnes of carbon emissions since November 2018,” says Young-Lauchmund.

The local initiative was inspired by a London-based project where people from diverse backgrounds come together to cook, share their culinary traditions, and build community – highlighting how food can connect cultures and create social bonds.

It was during a visit there that Ms Youngs-Lachmund realised the power of food to bring people together.

“I remember calling my mother and going, I’ve just had this fantastic experience, and she said, you should bring that to the City of Vincent,” she recalls.

Volunteers come from all over to help prepare the food (Image: Supplied)

Since then, on the second Sunday of every month, the North Perth Community Centre fills with volunteers. Anywhere between 50 and 70 volunteers attend, keeping the kitchen lively and busy.

Ms Youngs-Lachmund adds that the kitchen is especially valuable for newcomers to the area.

“But for me, it has always been [about] bringing people together and giving them those shared experiences.”

The importance of community

For many it’s not just coming together to tackle food waste but also about building community.

Research shows that one in seven young Australians experience persistent loneliness. Similarly, 28.5 per cent of older Australians aged 60 and above experience some degree of isolation.

Carmel Agnello, a volunteer and current organiser of the event, says the kitchen helps bring people in from the margins of society.

“In today’s times, it’s very difficult for people to feel included, and there’s an awful lot of isolation out there.

“I can see it makes a difference. It’s also nice to be part of a group, and we all get along well.”

Officially running for seven years this November, Ms Agnello says the community project has received a lot of positive feedback.

It has also inspired similar initiatives, such as the Stirling Community Kitchen.

Both initiatives take pride in what they offer and encourage new and long-term residents alike to come along and join in this community activity.