Let's get behind celebrating Food Waste Action Week. We’re supporting Love Food Hate Waste by sharing these top food waste prevention tips from West Sussex County Council as part of our #FightAgainstFoodWaste campaign.
Around a third of the average rubbish bin in West Sussex is food waste—most of which is avoidable. In fact, 70% of this could have been eaten at some point prior to being thrown away; of that, 41% is just not used in time and 25% is binned because too much has been cooked.
Saving food from going to waste is good for the environment, as when you throw food away, you’re not just wasting the product but also the energy, water and other resources that have gone into producing and transporting it. Reducing your food waste can also save you money; waste food is the equivalent of £20 per month per person, or £80 for a family of four.
Read on for practical tips to help you reduce food waste and save money:
Buy loose fruit and vegetables
Research shows that if all apples, bananas and potatoes were sold loose, 8.2 million shopping baskets' worth of food waste could be prevented every year. That’s simply because when fruit and vegetables are sold loose, people can buy only what they need and will use.
So next time you're at the shops, skip the pre-packaged bags of potatoes or bananas and choose loose produce instead. Bonus points if you bring a reusable bag to put them in!
Quick opinion poll
We know that buying loose fruit and veg is a great way to prevent overbuying and reduce food waste, but Love Food Hate Waste wants to hear what you think! To help them understand public opinion on this issue, they’re running a quick poll during Food Waste Action Week. Click on the button below to take part between 17 and 23 March.
Be a smart shopper
Planning a menu for the week and making a list is essential and will help you buy only what you need and save you money. When writing your shopping list, make sure you check what you have at home and how much extra of an ingredient you will need.
Shops also frequently promote BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free) deals and 'loss leaders'. This is where a number of products will be considerably marked down in price, generally close to the store entrance, to attract your immediate attention. Before adding those extra items to your basket, ask yourself:
- Are these items actually on your list?
- Will you definitely use them?
- Do you need to change your plans or list to accommodate them?
Try to only go to the shops once a week as this helps to avoid buying extra food you don’t need and reduces the temptation from other offers. Also, avoid going shopping when you’re hungry and in a rush as it's difficult to shop wisely in those conditions.
Love your leftovers
Got leftovers from dinner? Save them for lunch the next day instead of throwing them away. Not enough for a full meal? Combine small portions with other ingredients to create something new. They can usually be frozen to make a quick and easy meal as well.
Try to clean out your fridge monthly to make use of any leftovers you have lying around. If you’re struggling for inspiration or recipes that make the most of your leftovers, visit the Love Food Hate Waste website or BBC Good Food for fun, tasty leftover recipes that help you make the most of what you have.
If you are noticing that you always have leftover bread, try freezing your loaf to keep it fresh. You can defrost it slice by slice to ensure you never need to throw away any bread again. Most toasters even have a defrost setting so you can defrost your bread and toast it at the same time.
Freeze with ease
One of our favourite tips for keeping food fresher for longer is to make sure you are storing it correctly. When you buy food at the supermarket, check the packaging to see how it should be stored for maximum freshness.
Did you know for your fridge to work effectively it should be at 5 degrees Celsius or below? From time to time, you should check your fridge’s built-in thermometer against a freestanding one to ensure accuracy. As with your fridge, your freezer needs to be at the right temperature to work effectively. Your freezer should be set at -18 degrees Celsius or below.
Want to make the most of your freezer?
Get composting!
Composting is a fantastic way to make use of your food waste, from coffee grounds to vegetable peelings. You can also add in garden waste like lawn clippings, annual weeds, and even paper and cardboard.
Not only does composting reduce waste, but it can also save you money by reducing the need for garden products like soil improvements, fertilisers and mulches. Composting is also great for the environment as it encourages garden biodiversity, in the form of worms, slugs and woodlice. This then provides food for valuable wildlife like birds and hedgehogs.
Find out how to get started and details on how to get a subsidised compost bin.
Food waste prevention events
To mark Food Waste Action Week, West Sussex Recycles will be attending various food waste prevention events, including a stand at all of the WSCC funded UKHarvest Community Food Hubs.
These hubs are designed to educate residents on how to prevent food waste and reduce surplus food from suppliers that would have otherwise gone to waste. All residents are welcome to visit the child-friendly community food hubs and fill up a bag with delicious, rescued food. You don’t need a referral, just pop along and bring a reusable bag to fill with fresh fruit and vegetables.
Drop by for waste prevention tips, giveaways and a chance to win a compost bin!
- Monday 17 March 10am–4pm, Horsham Library, Lower Tanbridge Way, Horsham, RH12 1PJ
- Wednesday 19 March 9:30–11:00am, Broadfield Community Food Hub, Broadfield Community Centre, Crawley, RH11 9BA
- Thursday 20 March 9:30–11:00am, Worthing Community Food Hub, Sidney Walter Centre, Worthing, BN11 1DS
- Friday 21 March 10am–4pm, Crawley Library, Southgate Ave, Crawley, RH10 6HG
- Saturday 22 March 10am–4pm, Worthing Library, Richmond Rd, Worthing, BN11 1HD
- Wednesday 26 March 9:30–11:00am, Storrington Community Food Hub, Chanctonbury Leisure Centre, Storrington, RH20 4PG
- Thursday 3 April 9:30–11:00am, Petworth Community Food Hub, Sylvia Beaufoy Centre, Petworth, GU28 0ET
Alongside the above events, the Waste Prevention Team also attend various public and private events to promote waste prevention, reuse, and recycling, and are eager to answer questions about the county's recycling services and waste reduction initiatives. A full list of events can be found on our website here.