Reducing food waste is a win-win for everyone

Households will be offered food for thought on cutting grocery bills and reducing their carbon footprint by minimising the amount of food they throw away during Food Waste Action Week 1 – 7 March.

Oxfordshire County Council is supporting the national campaign set up by the charity WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme). Throughout the week, there will be tips on making the most of your leftovers, storing food properly, how to shop more effectively by planning your meals, plus the chance to win gadgets that will help you reduce your food waste.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “There really is no downside when it comes to reducing food waste. It saves families money, reduces the amount of rubbish that ends up in our bins to be disposed of, and is the environmentally friendly option. The Food Waste Action Week campaign will highlight small changes we can all make to minimise the amount of food we throw away each week.”

Information will be shared all week on the council’s social media channels – facebook.com/oxfordshirerecycles and twitter.com/oxonrecycles – and people are encouraged to use the hashtag #foodwasteactionweek when they get involved. Residents who get involved by voting in various polls will be entered into a prize draw where they can win gadgets such as:

• Silicone bowl lids to preserve leftovers.
• Bag clips to keep food fresh in cupboards, fridges or freezers.
• Measuring spoons to get portion sizes correct.
• A silicone spatula to scrape all the food out of cans, jars and bowls.
• A magnetic meal planner to plan shopping trips and avoid overbuying.
• A magnetic food storage wheel to show the best way to keep different foods fresh.

Oxfordshire’s district and city councils are also supporting the campaign.

The Replenish Project – run by Oxfordshire’s Community Action Group – will be running some Love Food Hate Waste workshops and activity guides for families, with a prize for people who send in a photo of their activities.

Seventy per cent of all wasted food in the UK comes from our homes – that represents 4.5 million tonnes going to waste.

Every year, 710,000 tonnes of potatoes are thrown away by UK households. If prevented, that would save 330,000 tonnes of CO2 from going into the atmosphere.

Oxfordshire’s Community Action Group is running a challenge throughout the week on Instagram to reduce the amount of food you waste. Its focus is from portion planning to freezing and defrosting safely. Take part by posting a photo relevant to the challenge, tagging them @lfhw_uk, using the hashtag #FoodWasteActionChallenge

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. Visit https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/ to find out how you can get involved, help the planet – and save money too.