Love Food Hate Waste

The waste composition analysis carried out across Herefordshire and Worcestershire in 2007/08 highlights that approximately 25% of waste collected from householders is food waste.[1] Some of the waste is made up of things like peelings, cores and bones, but the majority is, or once was, perfectly good food.

7.2 million tonnes of food is thrown away by households in the UK every year[2]. Again, some of this is inedible food waste but the vast majority is, or once was, perfectly good food.

Financial costs

Reducing food waste is a major issue and not just about good food going to waste. Wasting food costs the average household £480 per year, rising to around £680 per year for families with children; this is equivalent to about £50 per month.[3]

Environmental Costs

Wasting food has serious environmental implications too.

Wasted food has a big impact on climate change. Most of it ends up in landfill sites where it rots and releases methane, a damaging greenhouse gas. The food we throw away is also a huge waste of the energy, water and packaging used in it's production, transportation and storage.

If we stopped wasting food which could have been eaten, it would have the same impact on carbon emissions as taking 1 in 5 cars off UK roads.[4]

More information

To find out more about Love Food Hate Waste and for hints and tips to help you reduce food waste and save money, log on to www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/ 

This website also contains lots of recipes and ideas for using up leftovers.

Experience

Tracy, a mother of one from Redditch recently learned about the Love Food Hate Waste campaign. Here Tracy tells us how Love Food Hate Waste has changed her food habits:

"Thanks to your brilliant course I am now working hard to reduce food wastage at work and at home!

I made a great concoction the other day. I found leftover chicken, half a bag of stir fry veg, onion, garlic, leftover double cream and half a packet of Boursin cheese (which was nearly out of date!). I stir fried the chicken and veg together and then added the Boursin and cream I served it with some bulgar wheat but I could have served it with rice or pasta.

Also, since meal planning and writing down almost exact ingredients before I go shopping, we only spend £55 for a week's shop for a family of 3."

[1] Waste Composition Analysis, 2008, Resource Futures

[2] http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/ 

[3] Household Food and Drink Waste in the UK report, Nov 2009

[4] http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/about_food_waste