It is simple advice that could save people living in Warwickshire hundreds if not thousands of pounds in food costs over a year.
Cllr Martin Heatley
Shocking new figures have revealed the scale of food waste in Warwickshire.
Every person is throwing away the equivalent of £424 in cash in the food waste they discard each year.
Warwickshire County Council has unveiled this figure today on the day when food waste comes into the national spotlight.
Fruit and vegetable waste alone in Warwickshire is costing people in the county £26 million. According to a recent survey by government organisation WRAP, nationally 4.4 millions apples and 5.1 million potatoes are thrown away each day in the UK. In Warwickshire alone we are throwing away 50 million apples and potatoes a year.
With the increase in food costs of around 15% in the last year, waste managers in Warwickshire are advising residents on ways to reduce their weekly shop by using a simple shopping list and how to store their food correctly so that it lasts longer.
It is well known in the fresh produce industry that most fruit and vegetables keep longer at lower temperatures. For example, oranges and pears will last up to two weeks longer if kept in the fridge. While some bulky vegetables such as potatoes and onions can be stored in a cool dark area and refrigeration is not necessary. It is crucial to stop lighting getting to these items to prevent sprouting.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: ”It is simple advice that could save people living in Warwickshire hundreds if not thousands of pounds in food costs over a year.
“At least 1.2 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables are being stored outside the fridge that would benefit from being kept cool in the UK. Even if 5 per cent of this could be eaten rather than thrown away that would mean 60,000 tonnes less waste.
“In Warwickshire, disposal of unwanted food costs the tax payer more than £500,000 each year on top of the £26 million they have spent purchasing the food. That is why we are encouraging people to not throw away food in our Love Food, Hate Waste campaign.”
Love Food, Hate Waste is a Warwickshire Waste Partnership campaign aimed at cutting down the amount of food waste thrown away each year in Warwickshire.
For more information on the campaign please contact the Waste Minimisation Team on 01926 412458 or visit one of the links below.