Food waste and waste reduction
Cutting down on food waste at home can save you money and address the causes of climate change
Key facts about food waste
- the average UK family throws away almost £70 worth of good food each month in the form of leftovers or items that weren’t eaten in time
- we waste more than nine billion slices of bread each year
- the production and transportation of food is one of the biggest causes of climate change
Top tips for reducing food waste
- plan meals and check what you have before you go shopping
- keep your fridge below 5°C to keep food fresh
- you can freeze food right up to the ‘use by’ date
- keep fruit and bread in the fridge to keep them fresher for longer
- create an eat me first shelf in the fridge for food close to the end of its life
- no need to peel carrots and potatoes; eat all the edible parts of your food
- even broccoli stalks are edible, but you need to peel back the tough outer layer
- cook meals at the weekend and freeze them to eat during the week
The website Love food Hate Waste has advice to help you save more and waste less.
Home composting
Composting at home cuts CO2 emissions and turns most kitchen and garden waste into a free supply of compost that will keep your garden blooming year after year.
Hart District Council has teamed up with Getcomposting.com to offer home compost bins from only £22.00 (RRP £39).
Visit www.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444.