A national campaign and website have been launched to tackle the environmental and financial problems associated with Australia's food wastage.

The FoodWise campaign has been launched by not-for-profit organisation, Do Something!, and aims to reduce the three million tonnes of food that Australians throw away each year.

“Every year, Australians spend $5bn on food that they buy but don't eat," says Jon Dee, campaign organiser and founder and chairman of Do Something!.

“Many people don't realise that when discarded food rots in landfill, it releases methane into the atmosphere. This greenhouse gas is 20 times more potent than the carbon dioxide that pours out of car exhausts," he said.

Part of the FoodWise campaign will be the support of food charities such as Foodbank, FareShare, Second Bite and Oz Harvest who all give food assistance to Australians in need.

Dee said this part of the campaign will encourage food retailers and food markets to give their high quality leftover food to these organisations.

To find out more head to www.DoSomething.net.au