Leicestershire County Council has teamed up with environmental charity WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) to highlight the environmental impact of household food waste.
70 per cent of all food wasted in the UK each year is from our own homes, with each year seeing households throw away 4.5 million tonnes of food, worth an estimated £13.8 billion, which could have been eaten.
Food Waste Action Week, which runs until Sunday (13 March), aims to show that wasting food feeds climate change.
The campaign encourages residents to take easy everyday actions to reduce food waste and save money – as well as help the council tackle climate change and make the county a cleaner, greener place.
The council wants to inspire residents to make small changes to their everyday lives, such as planning their meals and storing their food correctly. These actions can make a big difference and could help families save an average of £720 a year.
Several food waste prevention themed events have been held across the county, including;
- A stall at Market Harborough covered market
- A food composting workshop led by Master composter Rod Weston at Stokes Wood Allotment, Leicester
- A stall at Coalville Market today (Fri)
- Six community kitchens across Hinckley and Bosworth have been taking bookings for their cooking courses during the week.
Leicestershire County Council is delighted to be part of Food Waste Action Week. It is a great time to support residents to help reduce unnecessary food waste, and to sustainably deal with unavoidable food waste through home composting.
Everyone can make a difference by taking small steps - from making meals to use up your leftovers, to freezing food, it all helps protect the planet, and ensure that no edible food waste ends up in the bin.
Person:Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for the environment and the green agenda
The county council has been sharing their top tips on how residents can reduce their food waste and take part in activities on their social media channels, as well as on the Leicestershire Recycling Facebook page.
You can also sign up for ‘Watch Your Waste’ – the county council’s new online food waste prevention programme – to learn how to reduce your food waste and how you can win prizes by taking action at home. Find out more by visiting lesswaste.org.uk
For more information about upcoming food waste prevention themed events – including cooking classes and activities at community kitchens, visit lesswaste.org.uk/events
Love Food Hate Waste is a campaign led by WRAP – the UK’s leading sustainability charity. You can find out more by visiting lovefoodhatewaste.com/fwaw
The county council provides cooking classes through community kitchens and funding for community kitchens.
The county council is taking bookings to appear at events, deliver talks for community groups, and schools.
The council is also accepting applications for its Environment Action Volunteer scheme and volunteers can specialise in household food waste prevention.