A poster is put up outside of a restaurant in Yiwu encouraging diners to avoid food waste. [Photo/Yiwu Media Convergence Center]

Suxi town in Yiwu, Zhejiang province has joined the national campaign against food waste, local media outlets reported on Aug 14.

The town adopted an "N-1" mode, in which a group of diners will be encouraged to order one fewer dish than the number of diners, but are free to add more dishes later.

Waiters and waitresses will advise customers on how many dishes they have ordered and will remind customers if they need to pack leftovers. There are also posters and voice reminders advocating the "N-1 mode."

In cases of small numbers of diners, that restaurant will provide small-sized dishes, half-portioned dishes, and to-go boxes.

"People used to be embarrassed to pack leftovers," said Mrs Xing, a diner in Suxi town. "But now packing leftovers has started to become a habit. Small-sized and half-portioned dishes are also popular."

A man orders dishes. [Photo/Yiwu media convergence center]

"Half-portioned dishes give people more choices and they avoid waste. It also helps me save money," said Wang Zhao, another diner that was interviewed.

The "N-1 mode" has been promoted in more than 480 restaurants in Suxi, and is expected to be promoted throughout the city.

"A series of reward and punishment measures will be introduced later," according to the municipal civilization office.