Partner Spotlight: Metro Vancouver – Championing Food Waste Reduction Across the Region
Metro Vancouver has long been a driving force in Canada’s food waste prevention movement. In fact, the region brought the Love Food Hate Waste campaign to Canada in 2015 and led its growth before passing leadership to FoodMesh in 2025. Today, Metro Vancouver remains a committed partner and continues to champion the clear, research-based messages that helped build the campaign’s foundation.
We recently spoke with Alisha Drinkwater, Communications Specialist with Metro Vancouver, to learn more about their ongoing work to help residents prevent food waste and how Love Food Hate Waste continues to support these efforts.
Why Food Waste Matters in Metro Vancouver
Food waste prevention is one of five behaviour-change campaigns Metro Vancouver runs to reduce the amount of garbage produced per person, including efforts to reduce holiday waste, single-use items, and textile waste, as well as increasing diversion of unavoidable food waste like food scraps.
Metro Vancouver’s approach to waste reduction is guided by its solid waste management plan. The plan set ambitious goals for reducing waste and improving recycling systems across the region. Those efforts are paying off: from 2011 to 2023, the amount of garbage generated per person went down by 26%.
An updated plan is expected in early 2026 with a strong focus on waste prevention and supporting a circular economy.
“Everything points to prioritizing rethinking, reducing, and reusing before recycling or disposal,” Alisha explains. “Behaviour change campaigns, including food waste prevention through Love Food Hate Waste, will continue to be a top-tier focus.”
A Trusted Partnership with Love Food Hate Waste
Metro Vancouver continues to work closely with Love Food Hate Waste as a trusted partner, using the campaign’s resources to support local food waste prevention efforts. The strength of the partnership lies in shared goals, clear messaging, and practical tools that make it easier to connect with residents.
For Alisha, the value of LFHW is clear.
“It’s a huge help having access to a ready-made toolkit with Canadian data. The messaging is clear, consistent, and well-researched, and the team is flexible and responsive to regional needs. Using the same language and advice across Canada builds recognition and makes the message stronger for consumers.”
Inspiring Residents Through Digital Outreach and Community Engagement
Much of Metro Vancouver’s food waste prevention work happens through digital channels. Their team uses LFHW assets to run digital ads linking back to key resources on the Love Food Hate Waste website, especially the A–Z Food Storage Guide and the “5 Ways With” series.
They also collaborate with social media influencers who share LFHW messages in their own authentic voices. “Influencers help us reach new audiences but also spark new ideas for people who already follow the campaign,” Alisha says.
This past summer, Metro Vancouver also met residents in person. At the annual PNE Fair in Vancouver, the team connected with fairgoers by handing out rescued and imperfect apples. The delicious treat opened the door to conversations about food waste and helped visitors walk away with a memorable message.
Seeing a Shift: What’s Changing?
Alisha has noticed a growing sense of community in the comment sections of LFHW-related content. “People are talking to each other, sharing their own strategies, and cheering each other on. That kind of camaraderie shows that people really do want to waste less.”
Municipal partners across the region continue to be involved, sharing LFHW content on their social media channels and helping amplify the message.
A Personal Tip from Alisha
When it comes to her own kitchen, Alisha keeps things simple. Living in a small apartment with limited fridge space is certainly motivating, but it’s her conscious effort to reduce food waste that truly shapes her habits. She plans meals thoughtfully and chooses recipes with fewer ingredients, knowing that simplicity makes it easier to use everything she buys.
“Simplifying meals and meal planning has made a big difference. The fewer ingredients a recipe calls for, the less likely I am to forget something in the fridge.”
For Alisha, it all comes back to one idea. The fewer items you bring into your home, the fewer opportunities you have to waste them.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Metro Vancouver?
The coming year is shaping up to be an exciting one. Metro Vancouver’s updated solid waste management plan will launch in early 2026 and is expected to further prioritize rethinking and reducing waste at its source.
“We’re really excited about the direction this plan is taking,” Alisha says. “There’s a strong commitment to prevention, and the LFHW campaign is a natural part of that.”
Metro Vancouver continues to be a remarkable example of what dedicated, long-term action can achieve. We’re grateful for their leadership, their innovation, and their ongoing partnership in helping Canadians waste less food — one household at a time.
