Media Releases

Campaign To Cut Food Waste

07/07/2008

Press Release

A campaign is being launched to encourage people in Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham to cut the amount of food they throw away and waste.

The move comes in the wake of a report from the Government funded Waste and Resources Action Plan (WRAP) that shows UK households throw away a third of the food they buy. It's also happening as Prime Minister Gordon Brown claims British households could save £8 a week by cutting the amount of wasted food.

Over the next six months, the three councils and their waste disposal partner re3 will be highlighting to residents how much food is thrown away and suggesting some practical steps to reduce it. This includes thinking carefully when doing the weekly shop about how much is needed and storing food so it lasts longer.

WRAP estimate the average household wastes £420 a year on wasted food. The three councils have a population of around 400,000 residents which means they may be throwing away as much as £71m worth of food each year.

On a daily basis WRAP reckons households across the UK throw away:

- 7 million slices of bread
- 260,000 packs of unopened cheese
- 4.4 million whole apples
- 5.1 million whole potatoes

There is also a huge environmental impact when the amount of transportation involved in delivering food to our homes is taken into account. The WRAP study says that if the waste was cut we could save CO2 emissions equivalent to removing one in every five cars from the road.

Cllr Mrs Dorothy Hayes, Executive Member for the Environment at Bracknell Forest Borough Council, said: "Encouraging residents to think carefully about the amount of food they throw away could not only stop unnecessary waste ending up in harmful landfill sites, but save money at the checkout as well."

Paul Gittings, Lead Councillor for Environment and Sustainability at Reading Borough Council, said: "I was pretty shocked by the findings of the WRAP report. The amount being wasted is a concern, especially as there are plenty of places in the world where the food we are wasting would make all the difference. I hope people everywhere will do their bit to waste less perfectly good food."

Chair of the Joint Waste Disposal Board, Wokingham Councillor Rob Stanton, said "The issue of food waste affects all of us. It is an economic, environmental and health issue. People often feel that this type of issue is too big for them to make a difference but this is an issue on which everyone can have a positive impact and if they do, they will not only see a reduction in the amount they throw away, but they'll save money too."

ENDS

Notes for Editors:
Re3 is the partnership between Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils and Waste Recycling Group. The partnership was formed to manage the waste produced in the area over a 25 year period.

Sally Moore
Tel: 0118 939 0944
Oscar Mortali
Tel: 0118 939 0301