The UK throws away around 9.5 million tonnes of food waste every year, even though 8.4 million people in the UK are in food poverty.
In London alone, the largest single material by weight found in the bin is food waste, accounting for 27% of overall household and commercial waste.
According to ReLondon, a partnership between the Mayor of London and the London boroughs, 19% of that food waste is also food that could have been eaten.
Bexley Council has been advertising its new schemes to teach people how to reduce and recycle their food waste. They are even offering free cookery classes to teach its residents how to make food last longer.
Bexley is one of few councils that offer food wastage bins.
It said: “Last year in total we recycled 5,523 tonnes of food waste from residents and businesses in Bexley, which generated over 2.4 million KWh of renewable electricity, enough to power more than 828 households for a year.”
That collected food waste also saved over 222 tonnes of carbon when compared with sending food waste to incineration.
Charities like FoodCycle are dedicated to feeding London’s most vulnerable people, all while saving significant amounts of surplus food.
Charity feeds the most vulnerable members of London society
A FoodCycle spokesperson told City News it has served “50,000 free meals so far in 2024 across London, and saved 100 tonnes of surplus food from going to landfill.”
Talking to Bexley’s waste department, the main problem confronting food waste schemes is residents’ habits.
Even in its dedicated food bins, Bexley’s most recent report found that 68.1% of food waste was ‘avoidable’.
Bexley hopes that its efforts to educate its residents will eventually change that.
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Standfirst
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HeadlineLondon’s food waste is a mounting problem
Short HeadlineLondon's food waste is a mounting problem
StandfirstBexley Council has been leading the way in London for years with its approach to food waste
The UK throws away around 9.5 million tonnes of food waste every year, even though 8.4 million people in the UK are in food poverty.
In London alone, the largest single material by weight found in the bin is food waste, accounting for 27% of overall household and commercial waste.
According to ReLondon, a partnership between the Mayor of London and the London boroughs, 19% of that food waste is also food that could have been eaten.
Bexley Council has been advertising its new schemes to teach people how to reduce and recycle their food waste. They are even offering free cookery classes to teach its residents how to make food last longer.
Bexley is one of few councils that offer food wastage bins.
It said: “Last year in total we recycled 5,523 tonnes of food waste from residents and businesses in Bexley, which generated over 2.4 million KWh of renewable electricity, enough to power more than 828 households for a year.”
That collected food waste also saved over 222 tonnes of carbon when compared with sending food waste to incineration.
Charities like FoodCycle are dedicated to feeding London’s most vulnerable people, all while saving significant amounts of surplus food.
Charity feeds the most vulnerable members of London society
A FoodCycle spokesperson told City News it has served “50,000 free meals so far in 2024 across London, and saved 100 tonnes of surplus food from going to landfill.”
Talking to Bexley’s waste department, the main problem confronting food waste schemes is residents’ habits.
Even in its dedicated food bins, Bexley’s most recent report found that 68.1% of food waste was ‘avoidable’.
Bexley hopes that its efforts to educate its residents will eventually change that.
