Bin lorries are getting the ‘Food Savvy’ message across

Several lorries have now been wrapped in the yellow and blue distinctive #FoodSavvy artwork.  

The average black bin contains 35% of food waste and of this, 69% is "avoidable", so could be eaten in one form or another.  46% was still in its packaging. Therefore, #FoodSavvy is urging households across Worcestershire to do their bit to reduce food waste by providing handy hints to get the best out of their food by planning, storing, and using their leftovers. 

 

Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Richard Morris, said, “What we are asking people to do is to make it their mission to plan what they need and not waste food or money.  

"We know people waste food for all sorts of reasons. They buy too much, don’t know how to store it correctly or aren’t quite sure how best to use any leftovers. #FoodSavvy aims to provide information to help people plan better, store it right and get more creative to help reduce waste and at the same time save some money.”  

 

Councillor Brandon Clayton, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Redditch Borough Council, added, The average household wastes over two months’ worth of food each year, that is more than £700. Reducing food waste is good for the planet and our pockets, especially as many of us are working hard to make our budgets stretch further. We hope residents embrace the #FoodSavvy mission and are inspired to use up their leftovers." 

 

As well as financial savings there are environmental savings too. If everyone in the UK stopped throwing away food for just one day, it would be the same as taking 14,000 cars off the road for an entire year. 

 

For summer, there are savvy ways to store salad and vegetables to keep them fresher to be savoured another day; or reinvent them in delicious dishes to make sure nothing goes to waste. 

 

More information about getting Food Savvy can be found on the Food Savvy pages of the Let's Waste Less website and keep an eye on the Council’s social media channels for hints and tips to help you reduce food waste and save money.