Information on Loughborough

Make a meal of food leftovers

Posted on 19/09/2008

food

Budding chefs with the flair to transform leftovers into mouth-watering meals are being asked to send in recipes as part of a new cook book competition.

The top 50 will be included in a publication being created as part of a new Leicestershire Waste Partnership campaign to reduce food waste.

The creators of the top three recipes will receive shopping vouchers with the first prize being worth £150.

This is just one part of the Partnership’s Love Food Hate Waste initiative, being launched in support of a national campaign run by WRAP (Waste Resources Action Programme).

Waste officers will also be on hand at roadshows across Leicestershire throughout September and October to offer advice on food storage, meal planning and using up leftovers.

Leicestershire households produce almost 3kg of food waste per household per week - this equates to throwing away 390 tins of baked beans every year. This food waste usually ends up going to landfill but around 60% of the food thrown away could actually be used.

On average, UK households waste 6.7million tonnes of food every year - this is around one third of all food purchased and equivalent to buying three bags of shopping and throwing one bag away.

Nicholas Rushton, County Council Deputy Leader and Chairman of the Leicestershire Waste Partnership, said: "Supporting the national Love Food Hate Waste campaign is a great way to encourage Leicestershire residents to reduce the amount of food they throw away by storing it correctly, cooking the right proportions and using up their leftovers."

Roadshow details are below:

  • 19th September- Farndon Fields Farm Shop, Farndon Road, Market Harborough, 9am-4pm
  • 25th September- Co-op, Syston, 12.30pm-6pm
  • 26th September- Co-op, Glenfield, 9am-4pm
  • 30th September- Tesco, Wigston, 9am-3.30pm
  • 2nd October- Co-op, Ibstock, 9am-4pm
  • 4th & 5th October- East Midlands Food and Drink Festival, Brooksby Hall, Melton Mowbray, 10am-5pm
  • 7th October- Blaby Shopping Precinct, 10am-4pm
  • 9th October- Asda, Oadby, 9am-3.30pm
  • 14th October- Sainsbury’s, Market Harborough, 9am-4pm
  • 16th October-Co-op, Broughton Astley, 9am-2pm
  • 18th October- Ashby Farmers Market, Ashby de la Zouch, 9am-2pm
  • 21st October- Co-op, Earl Shilton, 9am-3pm
  • 28th October- Sainsbury’s, Loughborough, 9am-4pm
  • 29th October- Sainsbury’s, Fosse Park, 9am-4pm
  • 30th October- Lutterworth Market, 9am-3.30pm

For tips on how to reduce food waste, visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

For further information on Leicestershires Love Food Hate Waste campaign, roadshow details and competition rules, visit www.leics.gov/uk.waste or call 0116 305 7005.

To enter the receipe competition on line visit www.leics.gov.uk/waste or send a recipe on one side of A4 to Waste Management, Leicestershire County Council, Room 700, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8RJ. The closing date is 14th November.

WRAP (Waste Resources Action Programme) is government-funded and encourages recycling and home-composting.