Households could save up to £50 a month simply by cutting down on food waste and re-using leftovers, according to new research.
Figures released by the Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) estimate a family could significantly cut their food bills simply by being more careful about the amount of food they buy and cook.
And a survey conducted on behalf of the Surrey Waste Partnership, made up of Surrey County Council and the 11 district and borough councils, revealed two-thirds of local residents throw away food that could be re-used.
Fruit, vegetables and salad are among the foods that most often end up in the bin, with half of those surveyed admitting they throw away completely unopened packs of food.
Such waste contributes to the total 107,000 tonnes of food and drink thrown away in Surrey each year – a fifth of the county’s annual total waste. The cost of disposing of food waste alone is around £7.6 million.
County Councillor Lynne Hack, Redhill county councillor and Surrey’s Cabinet member for the Environment, said:
“Most of us are guilty of buying too much food, or cooking too much and throwing food away and it all adds up,
“Nationally we waste more than £12 billion worth of food and drink each year. If we can change our behaviour in Surrey we can make a real difference to that total.
“Small changes to shopping and cooking habits can significantly reduce food bills for individuals, couples and families.
“And if the county can save just three per cent of the total waste produced annually, the county council will save more than £1 million in waste disposal costs.”
To help householders make the most of their food and drink the Surrey Waste Partnership has set up a website www.lovefoodsurrey.com to provide information, tips and advice, and several recipes designed to make the most of left-overs.
The website supports the national Love Food Hate Waste campaign, which has been endorsed by celebrity chefs Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver.
Lynne Hack added
“The amount of food thrown away is such a waste of resources – just think about all the energy, water and packaging used in food production, transportation and storage.
”By reducing the amount of food wasted we can make a real difference to the environment. Lovefoodsurrey.com has already given me some great advice which will help me reduce food waste in my household, and I’m looking forward to seeing what other tips local people have to offer.”
Waste savers
Make the most of your food shopping by planning meals in advance and stocking up with essential ingredients.
Storing food sensibly can help it last longer so keep bananas away from other fruit, keep apples in the fridge, wrap cheese in tin foil and if only using part of a pepper leave the stem and seeds intact. Putting a piece of bread in with cookies in an airtight container can keep the cookies fresh and moist.
There’s not much that can’t be frozen if it’s not needed including vegetables and herbs, grated cheese for toppings, meat cut up in strips for stir-frying and chopped up fruit that can be used for smoothies.
Some food can be given a new lease of life even if it looks like it’s ready to be thrown away, for example soaking wilted greens in cold water for 30 minutes shocks and revives them for a green salad or sandwich. And stale cereal, crisps or nuts can be baked for between three and five minutes and put in an airtight container, giving them up to five extra days’ life.
Keep an eye on ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ dates. The ‘best before’ dates are more about quality than safety, except for eggs. So when the date runs out it doesn’t mean that the food will be harmful, but it might begin to lose its flavour and texture.
What do you think?
The Surrey Waste Partnership is currently revising its waste plan and is welcoming residents views on proposed targets and waste disposal options.
Questionnaires are available from libraries and district and borough council offices, or can be completed online at www.surreywastepartnership.org.uk.
The results of the consultation will be published in the autumn.
Reader offer
Composting garden waste, leftovers and food waste including banana skins, eggshells and teabags, is another way of avoiding food waste going to landfill, and creates a free fertilizer for the garden.
With this in mind the Surrey Waste Partnership is offering residents the opportunity to buy a home composting bin from just £14 – less than half the recommended retail price.
To take advantage of this offer visit www.surreycc.gov.uk/getcomposting or call 0844 571 4444.
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