Food waste

An estimated £420 worth of food is thrown away each year per household in the UK. This means a third of all food we buy ends up in the bin because it wasn't used in time or too much was cooked.

Most food waste ends up in landfill sites where it rots and releases methane, a damaging greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.

The food we throw away also wastes the huge amount of energy, water and packaging used in its production, transportation and storage. Cutting down food waste could save the same amount of carbon dioxide as taking 1 in 5 cars off the road.

What can I do?

• Plan meals and stick to a shopping list. Don't shop when you are hungry as you may buy food that won't get eaten.
• Check the ‘use by' date of products to make sure they will last until needed.
• Don't buy bulk offers unless you are sure you are going to eat them.
• Check freezer contents before going shopping. Food is often forgotten at the back and ends up being thrown away.
• Set your fridge between 1°C and 5°C and store food in resealable containers to make it last longer.
• Measure out food like pasta, rice and potatoes so you don't cook too much.
• Freeze left over home cooked food to use at a later date.
• Turn your leftover food into other dishes such as soups, pies, casseroles, and stir fries.

What about unavoidable food waste?

Some food waste such as peelings, cores and bones can't be avoided. However, these can be safely composted at home.

We provide a range of reduced-price compost bins and food waste digesters to help get you started. See our page about Composting.

Did you know food waste makes up one fifth of the average dustbin?

Events

We are planning various events where you can come along and find out how you can waste less food and save more money.

Further information

For further shopping, storage and portion tips, as well as leftover recipe ideas, see the Love Food Hate Waste website.

To find out more about ways to reduce, reuse and recycle, contact the Environmental Action team.