Food waste in Serbia: challenges and strategies for sustainable management and redistribution

Abstract

The Serbian tradition of welcoming guests with abundant meals signifies good hospitality. However, Serbia lacks an established food waste management system, resulting in significant surplus food generation across all social groups without a mechanism to redirect it to those in need. Annually, approximately 770,000 tons of food are wasted in Serbia, an untenable luxury for a country with an average monthly salary below 500 Euros. The absence of accurate data on food production and waste exacerbates the issue. In Belgrade, which produces around 550,000 tons of municipal waste annually, it is estimated that 30% is food waste, totalling about 165,000 tons. This situation highlights a critical gap in food waste management and redistribution, affecting vulnerable groups such as the urban poor and the elderly. Current habits, such as purchasing more food than necessary and restaurants increasing portion sizes, significantly contribute to food waste. Experts estimate that about 90% of total waste in Serbia ends up in landfills, leading to substantial greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts are underway in Belgrade to introduce a voluntary scheme for sustainable food waste management, starting with mapping the largest food waste generators and creating a digital platform for data consolidation. This initiative aims to minimize surplus food generation and redirect edible food to social groups in need, improving food security and reducing environmental impact. Effective food redistribution systems could notably benefit vulnerable populations, including women victims of violence, by providing safe and reliable food sources. Adopting such models aligns with the global shift towards a circular economy and supports the forthcoming Waste Management Strategy and new Law on Waste Management in Serbia.