We are taking these steps for an environment in better condition for the next generation. The new issue of the plans includes more focus on all local authorities having separate food collections to achieve the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfills within the next five years and to achieve a 50% reduction in residual municipal food waste produced per person by 2028.
Household food waste accounts for 70% of total food waste in the UK, costing the average family home £70 a month! Every day in the UK we throw away 20 million slices of bread, 5.2 million glasses of milk, and 4.4 million of potatoes and around 178 million bags of salad each year. It is estimated that over 2 million tonnes of food waste each year is still edible, according to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
Household food waste could fill around 66,000 three bed terraced houses.
Not only do people need education on reducing food waste, there’s a need to implement consistency on what and how we can recycle to boost recycling across the UK, preventing food waste from being sent to landfill preventing it breaking down and producing methane gas, which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Recycled food can create energy. 1.3 million tonnes of food waste in the UK produced electricity to power 200,000 homes. Most people make a conscious effort to recycle more, but there’s still a long way to go.
YPO recognises the extent of the issue and is dedicated to supporting your food waste management procurement solutions, helping you serve your communities better to fulfil their recycling needs. Whether you are at the start of your food waste management journey or already running a successful recycling scheme, we can help you spend better and reinvest where it matters.
Check out what we have available here, including support with tenders and free consultations with one our procurement experts.