Waste Less Recycle More
Did you know?
In the UK, 10 million tonnes of food is wasted every year, with around 70 per cent of that coming from our homes.
UK households waste 6.5 million tonnes of it every year, 4.5 million of which is edible, and the average family of four could save just over £60 per month by reducing their food waste.
If we all just buy what we need, and eat what we buy we could make a real difference to the food that we waste every year.
If you do have leftovers why not try home composting or recycle any other food waste using your weekly kerbside collection service.
Benefits of recycling food waste
An average household generates 5kg of food waste each week. This is the same weight as just over 4 full unopened bottles of wine.
Food waste makes up a quarter of Gloucestershire householders waste bin. Most of which includes food that could have been eaten. Food waste also causes just as much damage to our planet as plastic waste. When we throw food away, we’re not only wasting the food, but all the energy that’s gone into making it
Recycling your food waste helps create energy to power our homes and a fertiliser to grow crops.
To recycle food waste, please see our step by step service guide, showing what can and can’t go into your food waste bin.
Food waste reduction tips
Plan your shop and meals
- Be organised, make a shopping list OR take a ‘snap shelfie’ to remind you of what’s in your cupboards and fridge at home
- Only buy what you need and eat what you buy
Make food last longer
- Make sure your fridge is set between 0 and 5 degrees - this will help milk and other food last up to three days longer.
- Place newly bought items at the back of the shelf to ensure you use the oldest food first.
Plan your portions using this handy calculator - portion-planner.
Make the most of your leftovers
- Take a look these at recipes to find something to create with your leftovers
Food waste recycling tips
- If you don’t use liners in your kitchen caddy, put a sheet of kitchen roll or newspaper in the bottom to help keep it dry
- Make sure you remove all packaging from your food waste, especially plastic
- Remember to scrape all your uneaten food straight into your caddy so it can be recycled
- Remember to recycle your mouldy and out of date food, including ready meals removed from their packaging
- By recycling your food waste weekly your household refuse bin will be cleaner and less smelly
- Check out video tips on the Recycle Now website
Food recycling - frequently asked questions
