Stop Food Waste Day

Wednesday 26 April 2023
 

Stop Food Waste Day is the largest single day of action in the fight against food waste.

Did you know, one third* of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally? Food waste is central to some of the key challenges facing the world today, including hunger and poverty, climate change, health and wellbeing and the sustainability of agriculture and oceans. Wasting food is also a waste of the energy to grow, harvest, process and cook, and food waste in landfill can cause methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. *Source: World Food Programme

It's easy for everyone to get involved with reducing the impact of food waste, not just on Stop Food Waste Day, but day in, day out - both in our personal and professional lives. 

Understand the facts about food waste

  • Food waste is estimated to produce 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions
  • In the UK, more than two thirds of food waste comes from households
  • If we have a moral responsibility to protect the environment then reducing food waste is a major part of that

Food Waste in Rugby

If you subscribe to our green bin service, all food waste can go in there. This is taken to an In-Vessel-Composter in Ufton. 

Rugby doesn’t offer a dedicated kerbside collection of food waste, although this is currently being investigated. In the meantime, we encourage residents to avoid putting food waste in your black bins if possible. The following advice may help you.

Prevent

  • Check your fridge before you go shopping and see what you can use up
  • Remember that food can still be consumed after its ‘best before’date, only discard it after the ‘use by’ date
  • Prevent food waste at source by storing food optimally, making use of every edible part of the ingredient and planning meals ahead of time 
  • Use your fridge and freezer to make food last longer

Inspire

  • Inspire others to waste less, and repurpose more. Check out the digital food waste cook book below where you can share inspiring recipes with your family and friends. 

Repurpose

  • If your food is beyond rescuing composting is a great solution for food waste. The greenhouse gas emissions are better compared to putting it in your black bin, and you will end up with valuable compost which will improve your garden
  • A simple open compost heap can take vegetable scraps, but not cooked food or meat/bones. Also be aware of attracting rats
  • A composting bin is a faster and cleaner way of composting. All Warwickshire residents can purchase a composter for a highly discounted price. Check out https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/composting
  • Repurpose food by redistributing your surplus to local community organisations. Check out the ones below.