Waste Reduction Week in Canada runs from Monday, October 19 to Sunday, October 25, 2026, and this year the campaign turns 25. It falls in the third week of Circular Economy Month, and each day puts the spotlight on a different kind of waste, with plastics on Thursday and food on Friday. The good news is that the kitchen is one of the easiest places in the house to make a real difference, and you don't need a perfect zero-waste pantry to start. A few small habits, and a handful of reusable tools, can keep more food on the plate and less in the bin.
Prices below are in Canadian dollars and match each product page at the time of writing.
Why Food Waste Is in the News This Month
In an October 12 piece for Policy Options, Lori Nikkel of Second Harvest, Canada's largest food rescue organization, points to her group's estimate that nearly half of the food produced in Canada goes to waste. Of that, about 41.7% is considered avoidable, a loss the report values at roughly $58 billion a year. She argues that Canada should measure food waste the same way across the country, set clear targets and track progress, much as the European Union has done. She also notes that the cost of wasted food ends up built into what we all pay at the grocery store.
Closer to home, small changes are already adding up. In Sparwood, British Columbia, 100 households tried countertop food-scrap machines in a 12-week pilot, and the district heard the results in early October. Participating homes cut their garbage by 38%, dropping from about 2.42 bags a week to 1.51, and 92% said the program made them more aware of how much food they were throwing out. That last number is the real lesson: once you notice your waste, it gets much easier to shrink it.
Step One: Store Leftovers So They Get Eaten
Leftovers that are easy to see and easy to grab are leftovers that get eaten. Instead of tearing off another sheet of plastic wrap, cover the bowl with one of our Reusable Silicone Bowl Lids. Each set comes with six lids, and you can choose one set for $33.99 or two sets for $41.99. Wash them, dry them, and they're ready for the next batch of soup or chopped fruit.
For single servings, the Ceramic Baking Bowl with Lid is a small ribbed ceramic bowl with a matching lid, about 8.5 cm across. It's $28.99 in beige, blue, light green, pink or purple. It's a tidy size for a spoonful of dip, a portion of yesterday's curry or a single baked dessert, so small amounts don't get lost at the back of the fridge.
Step Two: Cook the Right Amount
A lot of household food waste starts at the stove, when we make more rice, pasta or batter than anyone can finish. The Kitchen Food Scale is a digital scale that reads in grams and ounces, so you can weigh out portions and follow baking recipes more closely. It's $40.99 in black, blue, white or green. Weighing a family-sized serving once or twice is often enough to change how much you cook every week.
Fresh herbs are one of the most common things to wilt before we use them. The Multi-Blade Herb and Green Onion Scissors have layered stainless steel blades that chop herbs and green onions quickly, which makes it easy to snip what's left of a bunch over eggs, soup or rice before it goes limp. They run from $16.99 to $25.99 depending on the number of layers and pieces. Pair them with the Glass Oil Sprayer Bottle for Cooking, a 100 ml glass sprayer for oil, vinegar, soy sauce or lemon juice at $21.99. A light mist is often all a pan or salad needs, so a bottle of oil lasts longer.
Step Three: Skip the Single-Use Plastics
Plastics Thursday is a good reminder that kitchen waste isn't only about food. The City of Markham's Waste Reduction Week tips include choosing loose produce over packaged fruit and vegetables, bringing reusable bags and saying no to single-use plastics. Two easy swaps help with that last one. The Glass Straw Set with Cleaning Brush comes with clear straight and bent glass straws in a box with a cleaning brush, from $19.99 for four to $20.99 for three. The Portable Stainless Steel Cutlery Set is a mirror-polished stainless steel set in gold or a multi-colour finish for $21.99, so lunches at work or school don't need plastic forks.
Quick Habits for Food Waste Friday
- Do a two-minute fridge check before you shop, and plan one meal around what needs using up.
- Put older food at the front of the fridge and newer groceries behind it.
- Learn the difference between "best before" and spoiled. Many foods are still good after the date if they look, smell and taste fine.
- Freeze extra bread, cooked rice and ripe bananas before they turn.
- Compost scraps or use your city's green bin where it's offered, and check local rules for what's accepted.
Shop the Look
You don't have to change everything this week. Pick one swap, keep it going after Waste Reduction Week ends, and you'll likely see a smaller garbage bag and a slightly lighter grocery bill. Browse more reusable storage, prep tools and serving pieces in our Kitchen collection and our Kitchen & Dining collection. Happy cooking from all of us at Babbal Jabbal!
References
- Circular Economy Month 2026 Themes, Circular Economy Month (Circular Innovation Council)
- Circular Economy Month 2026, City of Markham
- Canada should borrow the EU's playbook to cut food waste, Policy Options (IRPP)
- FoodCycler pilot was a success for the District of Sparwood, My East Kootenay Now
- Waste Reduction Week 2026: 7 Practical Ways to Take Part, A Greener Future