Fiona
Bruce MP supports campaign to recycle food waste.
Congleton Member of Parliament Fiona Bruce met with
Cheshire Waste Reduction Ambassadors to help promote the recycling of left over
food.
The Waste Reduction Volunteer Programme is a partnership
programme from Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council with
Waste Watch. The programme has been created to reach out to the local community
and inspire the public to change their thinking about food waste.
National statistics show that the UK wastes large amounts
of food, such as 300,000 tonnes of poultry, 770,000 tonnes of potatoes, 660,000
tonnes of bread all within a space of a year. Within the EU an estimated 89 million
tonnes of food is wasted. Half of food waste is produced through households and
1.3% by supermarket chains. Since 2007 the UK has reduced its avoidable
household food waste by 21% however the average UK household still throws away
the equivalent of 6 meals a week.
Fiona Bruce met with Waste Reduction Ambassadors Pauline
Southwell and Nicola McAra who demonstrated how left over food can be used to create
nutritious meals, save money and make the most of what is left in your cupboard.
More information can be found at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/cheshire.
Fiona
Bruce MP said:
“This
is a great local project with some really practical ideas to make nutritious
meals out of food that we otherwise not use. I commend the volunteers involved.
Anyone interested in getting involved is welcome to apply to become a Waste
Reduction Ambassador to help promote food waste reduction locally and I
encourage people to do so.
Nationally
this is an objective that Government is working on together with WRAP, food retailers
and industry. I am pleased to see local residents taking a lead through this
initiative to help reduce the 15 million tonnes a year of food a year we throw
away in the UK, worth £400 per house hold. So as well as being good for the
environment this also helps save money, a real win-win.”
