Mapping food-waste flows in Guelph–Wellington for Waste Redirection and Reduction

The City of Guelph intends to complete a feasibility study that will support its joint initiative with Wellington County’s “Our Food Future,” funded by Infrastructure Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge. The study will involve collecting, aggregating and analyzing data on regional food waste to create a complete picture of food-waste flows and achieve three objectives: identify hotspots where food products are being lost; identify tactics to redirect them; and quantify the environmental benefits of doing so (this would be measured in tonnes of greenhouse gas emission reductions and tonnes of material redirected for higher purposes on the waste-reduction hierarchy). The study will apply principles of circular economy as a lens to identify the best tactics for waste reduction and redirection, and will review and report the benefits of the intervention measures using three to five case studies. The expected environmental benefits projected from the study’s results are as follows: reducing greenhouse gas emissions through less transportation of unconsumed and wasted food; reducing methane emissions from the landfill by increasing organic waste diversion; increasing resilience to climate change by strengthening local food production; and increasing renewable-energy options by providing pathways to transform waste by-products. The study will contribute to the Our Food Future initiative’s objectives to increase access to affordable, nutritious food by 50%, create 50 new circular businesses and collaborations, and increase circular economic revenues by 50%. This study is aligned with the City of Guelph's Community Plan, Strategic Plan, and Official Plan. It will be implemented in partnership with Wellington County and the University of Guelph. Innovative aspect(s): · The study will apply the principles of circular economy to the food supply chain · The study will investigate the potential of redirecting food waste from landfills and moving it to a higher level in the waste-reduction hierarchy, which could initiate new circular businesses and positively impact the regional economy through the creation of jobs and increased economic revenue Replicability: · The results of this study will provide other regions with tools and resources to implement similar circular-economy principles in their local food economies · The study team will produce and share a document outlining the project’s replication potential, lessons learned, and potential environmental, economic and social benefits · The study will be completed through close collaboration between different partners, including the city, the county, academia and non-governmental institutions (Project description from original funding application)