Wasting food feeds climate change – Food Waste Action Week 2021
FOOD WASTE ACTION WEEK 1st – 7th March 2021
- Wasting food feeds climate change. Don’t believe us? Well, if we stopped throwing away the 710,000 tonnes of potato’s we waste nationally every year in our homes, it could stop 330,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere.
- This is just one of the key facts being highlighted in the national Food Waste Action Week (1st – 7th March 2021) organised by the Waste Resources Action Programme, and that’s being supported by Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA)
70% of the UK’s wasted food comes from our homes*(1), and the power to change this is in our hands. We can start by using the 4.4 million potatoes we waste at home each day *(2), which could do the same for the planet as planting 14,900 trees.
Or by using up all 20 million slices of bread that end up in the bin every day * (3), which would have the same impact on climate change as planting 5.3 million trees. Together we can make a difference, use these simple tips and tricks to make sure your bins stay empty and the planet healthy.
Carl Beer, MRWA Chief Executive commented: “When we throw away food that could have been eaten, we are not just wasting food but the valuable resources that went into making it, including water, land and greenhouse gases.
That’s why during Food Waste Action Week (1st – 7th March 2021), MRWA are calling on everyone across the Liverpool City Region to understand the true value of food and to consider the impact of their behaviours.”
Well, the good news is everyone can make a difference.
Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority’s annual Community Fund has supported numerous food and cooking projects in previous years. The 2019/2020 Fund has numerous food projects being delivered including:
- A community group from Bootle has received a funding boost to help stop unused food from going to waste – by foraging and gleaning local farms and fields. Taking Root, a project of Stanley Road-based Regenerus, has received almost £8000 from the Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority Community Fund for The Big Community Glean Up – a project which is looking to stop food waste and to ensure good food gets into the hands of those who need it the most.
- A project to help householders in Liverpool save money and cut food waste is celebrating a funding boost. Groundwork Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseysidehas received £8,000 from the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) Community Fund to run the ‘Let’s Speke About Food’ scheme which will see cookery workshops delivered to raise awareness of and help reduce household food waste.
- The Authority also supports and promotes surplus food apps including Olio and ToGoodToGo.
You can take action now by:
- CHECK BEFORE THE CHECKOUT: Take note of what’s in your cupboards before you shop, so you never buy more than you need.
- CHILL THE FRIDGE OUT: Keep your fridge below 5 degrees so your food will last longer.
- COMPL-EAT-ING: Eat the whole part of the food, like potato skins and broccoli stalks.
- CREATIVE COOKING: Use the LFHW website for inspiration and recipe ideas for using up those leftovers. Everyone can make a difference, and something as small as saving your leftovers and encouraging friends and family to do the same means you’re doing your part. So, if you’re hungry for changes visit lovefoodhatewaste.com
ENDS
(1) (2) (3) SOURCE: Waste Resources Action Plan (WRAP) Food Waste Action Week 2021 www.lovefoodhatewaste.com