Rescuing Food and Sustaining Community

Rescuing Food and Sustaining Community: LinC Yarra Valley’s Role in Tackling Food Waste and Food Insecurity

Across Australia, millions of people are struggling to afford enough food. At the same time, tonnes of perfectly good food is wasted every year. According to Foodbank, 7.6 million tonnes of food is wasted in Australia annually, while over 3 million households experience food insecurity.

Food rescue organisations like OzHarvest, SecondBite and FareShare are stepping into this gap—rescuing surplus food from supermarkets, wholesalers and farmers, and redistributing it to local communities in need. In 2024, OzHarvest alone rescued 14.4 million kg of food, providing 28.5 million meals.

Food rescue in the Upper Yarra and Mooroolbark

Here in the Upper Yarra Valley and Mooroolbark regions of Victoria, food insecurity is a real issue. Nearly 9% of adults in the Yarra Ranges reported running out of money for food in 2023, above the state average. LinC Yarra Valley is part of the statewide network tackling this issue – rescuing and redistributing food that would otherwise go to landfill, and ensuring it reaches households in need through our Social Supermarkets and food programs.

But for us, food rescue is not only about feeding people. It’s also about sustainability, respect for resources, and building resilient communities.

Nothing goes to waste

At LinC Yarra Valley, we take a zero-waste approach to our food relief:

• All donated food is sorted and made available to the community through our Social Supermarkets in Mooroolbark and the Upper Yarra Valley.
• Nothing is wasted – if food is not taken by people, it is redirected within local communities to feed animals, ensuring every item has a purpose.
• Soft plastics and cardboard are fully recycled, reducing the environmental footprint of our operations.

This circular approach means that everything we receive contributes to local wellbeing – whether that’s nourishing families, supporting local farmers and pet owners, or cutting down landfill.

Why sustainability matters

Food waste isn’t just a social issue—it’s an environmental one. The Australian Government estimates that food waste contributes to around 3% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, mainly through methane released from rotting food in landfill.

By rescuing food and ensuring nothing goes to waste, LinC Yarra Valley is contributing to:

• Lower greenhouse emissions by diverting food from landfill.
• Stronger local food systems, where surplus benefits neighbours instead of going unused.
• A culture of respect for food and the people who grow, transport and prepare it.

A local solution with global impact

Globally, the UN has set a target to halve food waste by 2030. Initiatives like ours—community-based food rescue, recycling, and redistribution—are part of how this global goal is realised at the local level. Every box of fresh fruit, every loaf of bread, and every recycled cardboard carton is a step towards a healthier, more sustainable future.

How you can help

• Volunteer: Join our sorting, packing or social supermarket teams. Visit our Volunteer page.
• Partner with us: If you’re a local business with surplus food or packaging, we’d love to connect. Please Contact Us.
• Donate: Financial support keeps fridges running, vehicles fuelled, and gaps in supply filled. Visit our Donations page.

Together, we can ensure that every resource is valued, nothing goes to waste, and no one in our community is left hungry.