It is estimated that households across NSW throw away a staggering 800,000 tonnes of food each year. 

To raise awareness about such wastage, Southern Tablelands Regional Arts (STARTS) is running a series of workshops called Waste Free for Me, with the first workshop running this Saturday in Goulburn.

STARTS regional arts development officer Susan Conroy said Waste Free for me is all about finding out why we waste so much good food and trying to change our habits. 

“We all buy too much food, cook too much food and are not sure of how to best store food after opening packages or using left overs,” Ms Conroy said.

“So it all ends up in the general waste stream. The communities we work with are all still grappling with food waste.

“For local councils - the landfills are filling up because people are dumping food in their red bins not their green organic bins or composting at home. 

"Also, many people live in units where they may not have a garden or compost.”

"People are also not taking food out of its packages when they dispose of it. It is still in tins and plastic packages when they put it in the bins."

Ms Conroy said Waste Free for Me is a continuation of a statewide program called Love Food Hate Waste, which ran sessions in Goulburn last year. 

"We have amplified what was going on in those sessions last year. This is a more immersive experience,” Ms Conroy said.

“This weekend's session is about getting people to concentrate on what behaviours contribute to food waste.

"Such behaviours can include overbuying, chucking food out before it has gone bad and not shopping from a list, among others,” she said. 

The free workshop is at Gallery on Track this Saturday, March 25 from 10am to 4pm.

“This Saturday we will be giving people some facts, showing a short movie, then people will have time to think about what they are doing in their own home. 

"Then they will make their own beeswax wraps, which they get to take home. These are food wraps to use instead of cling wrap. It is re-useable and would otherwise cost people $45." 

She said artist Camile Kersley would be working with participants to make the wraps and other creative projects.

You need to book for the session by calling STARTS on 4823 4407.