“The Unfolding of the Impacts of

Household Food Waste in Canada”

An Analysis using Policy Analysis Framework

In partial fulfillment of a requirement on

MPA 464

Submitted by:

MA. ABEGAIL F. BUÑAO

Submitted to:

FATMA M. IDRIS, DR DEV

December 10, 2020

I. Define the Problem

The most recent problem faced by the government of Canada is the impacts

of the food waste which creates impacts not just on the economic side, but also in

the environmental aspects. One research conducted by the National Zero Waste

Council states that, almost 2.2 million tons of waste in food consumption is

generated in every household in Canada. If these food wastes are properly used,

it is equivalent to 17 billion dollars or 2.1 million cars on the road. Aside from

these economic impacts of food waste, the 2.2 million tons of food waste is also

equivalent to 9.8 million tons of carbon dioxide and gas emissions like methane

which is generally harmful to the environment. Food waste generally become an

issue both locally and across Canada.

II. Establish Evaluation Criteria

To measure and regulate the total food waste in every household is such so

hard for the government. There are several organizations who conducted

researches to create a comprehensive estimate for organic waste in Canada.

One of it is the Commission for Environmental Cooperation generate a data

which states that Canada generates around 18.4 million tons of food waste and

12.6 of it is sent for final disposal and the remaining 5.8 million tons are recycled

or used for another alternatives. This is equivalent to 85kg of food waste

consumed by an individual in a span of one year only. In another research

conducted by (Gooch et al., 2013), they estimated based on secondary data,

interviews and surveys, that there are 35.5 million tons of food waste in Canada,
with 11.2 million metric tons of avoidable food waste. These summarizes the

overall consumption of food waste in every household of the country.

III. Identify Alternative Policies

The government of Canada has their policy campaigns whether it’s local up

to national. This campaign focuses on healthy eating and food skills messaging

to encourage residents to eat the food that they have already purchased, and

thereby reduce food waste. Metro Vancouver's “Hey! Food Isn't Garbage!” is a

sample campaign which aims to recycle food wastes to divert in other alternatives

and implement strict regulation of food waste. The government of Canada also

implements Food Waste Audit Guide which encourages municipalities to work-

together in monitoring food waste and also encourages farmers and companies

to donate foods to prevent food waste. The program on Food Waste Reduction

and Healthy Eating Communications Strategy was also effective to empower

citizens of Canada to implement sustainable development by providing

education, tools and resources to support healthy living and gas emissions

reduction.

IV. Evaluate and Distinguish Alternative Policies

The National Zero Waste Council (NZWC) is a multi-stakeholder initiative that

was initiated by the regional government of Metro Vancouver with the objective of

advancing a waste prevention agenda across Canada. An organization whose

aim is to provide a successful awareness campaign. The campaign focuses on

food skills (i.e., the provision of recipes, tips, and the tagline “Plan it Out, use it
Up, Keep it Fresh”), and also conveys messages about the impacts of food waste

on the economy, environment and information about the carbon footprint of this

waste “Reducing 1 ton household food waste = 1 car off the road each year”.

The NZWC also implements a strategy called “A Food Loss and Waste

Strategy for Canada” in 2017. The strategy calls for the federal government to

publicly announce a national target and takes a systems approach that aims to

change practices and policies at key leverage points along the value chain and in

the mandates of governments, as well as encourage new behaviors. It is

anchored by three broad objectives: (1) Prevent the occurrence of food waste; (2)

Recover safe foods for the homeless and foods available for animals; and (3)

Recover nutrients from unavoidable food waste. It references the environment

and economic costs of food waste and alludes to the potential for food recovery

from this waste stream.

V. Monitor the implemented policy

Policy shapes the government in doing what it foresees and achieving its

goals for the common good (Prabhat, 2011). Policies are documents that provide

outlines in raising a concern through a systematic formulation that includes the

identification of a variety of actions that can help promote and realize the

specified goals in the society (Reimer, et.al, 2009). Though policy has its own

essential task to attain, there are several factors that affect in pursuing its goals.

The government of Canada is implementing several policies for valuing the

impacts of food waste and to ensure that this can be regulated with the aim for

sustainable development.
References:

Prabhat, S. (2011, June 21). Difference between law and policy. Retrieved from

http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/politics/difference-between-

law-and-policy/