Join the Leftovers Revolution: Australia invited to celebrate first national day dedicated to ‘unwasting’ food

Australians have a new reason to come together around tables across the country with the announcement of the first ever National Great Unwaste Day on 29 September 2025 – a nationwide invitation to ‘Join the Leftovers Revolution’.

The date coincides with the United Nations’ International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste to celebrate the simple act of turning the food we already have into something worth sharing – but brings its own Australian flavour.

It comes just one week after the government of Western Australia urged all households to become ‘great unwasters’.

CEO of End Food Waste Australia and The Great Unwaste campaign, Tristan Butt, said the day of celebration was backed by a serious mission to tackle the staggering financial and environmental cost of food waste across Australia.

“Every year, Australian households waste 7.6 million tonnes of food – that’s around 256kg of food per person and around half of that is still perfectly edible. This will cost the average family around $2,500 a year – roughly the same as an annual household electricity bill.

“But this day isn’t about finger pointing, it’s about sparking a national movement that’s as joyful as it is impactful. The Leftovers Revolution is about creating a joyful, national moment to celebrate the food we already have and turn it into a meal worth sharing. If every household did this and stopped food waste for just one day, we could save 5000 tonnes of food from going to landfill and put $53 million back into the Australian economy,” Tristan said.

The campaign’s first Impact Report, released today, shows Australians are ready to act and beginning to join Leftovers Revolution. A national survey of over 2,500 Australians found:

• 90% agree we all have a responsibility to reduce food waste
• 72% say it’s important to reduce uneaten food
• Yet, only 48% think their household could do more to reduce uneaten food
• 42% cited time and difficulty as the biggest barriers to reducing food waste – but those exposed to the campaign were significantly more confident in their ability to waste less

National Great Unwaste Day supports the National Food Waste Strategy and Australia’s commitment to halve food waste by 2030, in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3. Achieving this goal by 2030 could cut emissions by 50 million tonnes – the equivalent of taking half of Australia’s cars off the road for a year.

The Great Unwaste, which celebrates its first birthday on September 29, is supported with funding from the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

A simple, tasty call to action

The Great Unwaste is encouraging families, workplaces, schools and communities to join the Leftovers Revolution by giving a plate of food a new life, sharing recipes, and posting their creations online. The idea is simple: take what you already have, turn it into something delicious, and inspire others to do the same.

“This is a chance to show off your creativity in the kitchen, save money, and do something good for the planet,” said Tristan. “From reheating that mystery meal in the freezer to giving neglected ingredients a second life – let’s make leftovers a weekly staple.”

How to get involved

Whether you’re at home, at work, or in your community, there are simple ways to take part:

• Host a leftover lunch: Reheat last night’s dinner or reinvent your fridge finds into something new. Invite friends, family or colleagues to do the same and share a meal that saves money and reduces waste.
• Start a Conversation: Talk leftovers around the table or in your group chat. Swap tips on meal planning, storage hacks, and creative ways to give forgotten ingredients a second life.
• Take the Quiz: Find out your food-saving superpower and learn easy ways to boost it.
• Share Your Plate: Post your unwasted creation online to inspire others.
• Discover Recipes: Explore easy, delicious recipes that turn forgotten ingredients into crowd-pleasers.

Resources, guides and downloadable assets are available now at:

thegreatunwaste.com.au/great-unwaste-day/.

Media enquiries: 

Bonnie Sleeman, Senior Campaign Manager

T: 0422 727 169

E: Campaign@endfoodwaste.com.au

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