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Councils go to war on food waste
People from the West Country who take part in a food waste diary competition will get a free 'Eat Well, Waste Less' cookery book. The competition is part of the South West’s regional 'Love Food Hate Waste' campaign. Councils and individuals around the country are also signing up, and taking direct action against food waste.
Writing a food diary helps you see how to save
West of England councils Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire are running a joint competition aimed at cutting food waste. They are asking local residents to complete a seven-day food diary, pledging to reduce food waste.
Everyone who returns a food diary will win a free 'Eat Well, Waste Less' cookery book. People who suggest ideas to prevent food waste have the chance to win a class at a local cookery school.
Find new ways to spice up leftovers
A video and recipes for using leftover foods like bread, spaghetti, potatoes and vegetables are available from the Love Food Hate Waste site. The recipes can be downloaded for people to make at home.
Cutting down on food waste saves money
Every year we throw away £4 billion-worth of food because we cook or prepare too much. This amounts to 6.7 million tonnes, and most of this is food that could have been eaten.
Every day we throw away:
- 5 million potatoes
- 7 million slices of bread
- 1.3 million yoghurts and yoghurt drinks
"Each month, the average family throws away up to £50 worth of food that was bought but not eaten,"
said councillor Gary Hopkins of Bristol City Council.
"Residents could save themselves up to £600 a year simply by not wasting food. Completing the food diary should help to focus people's minds and help them to waste less and, because of that, generate less waste for councils to dispose of."
