Information on Loughborough

Top tips to trim food waste

Posted on 14/08/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Highways, Transportation & Waste Management

14 August 2009

Top tips to trim food waste

Meal planning and making the most of leftovers can help save residents up to £50 a month.

The tips, being promoted by Leicestershire Waste Partnership, are part of an ongoing drive called Love Food Hate Waste which encourages people to reduce food waste.

Cutting food waste is a central feature of the government’s new food security assessment designed to maintain future UK food supplies.

As well as saving people money, it also saves valuable resources, protects the environment and helps reduce carbon emissions.

The tips below can help to reduce food waste and save up to £50 a month:

• Plan meals and use a shopping list

• Create delicious meals by using leftovers

• Keep the fridge between 1 – 5 OC to ensure chilled food stays fresher for longer, and don’t forget most foods can be frozen

• Store food correctly using plastic containers and bag clips

• Keep an eye on use by and best before dates

• Cook the correct portions - try using measuring jugs and spoons

On average, Leicestershire households produce almost 3kg of food waste per household per week. This would be the same as each household throwing away 390 tins of baked beans every year.

Tony Kershaw, Vice Chairman of the Leicestershire Waste Partnership, said: “Around 60% of the food waste sent to landfill is actually avoidable. Supporting the national Love Food Hate Waste campaign is a great way of encouraging Leicestershire residents to store food correctly, cook the right proportions and use up their leftovers and reduce the amount thrown away.”

During September and October, the partnership will be holding roadshows and celebrity chef cooking demonstrations at various locations across Leicestershire to advise residents on topics such as food storage, meal planning and using up leftovers.

The Love Food Hate Waste campaign supports a national initiative run by WRAP (Waste Resources Action Programme).

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

For further information on the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, roadshow details and cooking demonstrations, please visit www.leics.gov.uk/waste or call 0116 305 7005.