Reducing food waste

In the UK, 4.4 million tonnes of edible food are thrown away each year, creating 16 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. 

The Love Food Hate Waste programme is a national initiative which provides practical information to help people make the most of the food they buy and waste less of it. You can also sign up to their monthly newsletter for updates and recipe tips.

Practical tips to reduce food waste

Buy what you need and plan your meals

Plan your meals so you only buy what you'll use, for example:

• avoid impulse buys and bulk buying perishable items unless you're sure they'll be used
• plan your meals for the week ahead - making food shopping easier because you already know what to pick up

Check your food storage regularly

Check what you already have before buying more, for example you can:

• look through your fridge, freezer and cupboards to spot items that need using soon
• move older items to the front so they’re not forgotten
• use leftovers creatively, such as adding cooked vegetables to soups or stir-fries, or turning stale bread into croutons or breadcrumbs

Understand date labels

Know the difference between food date labels so you can make safe decisions, for example:

• 'use by' dates relate to safety and should be followed
• 'best before' dates relate to quality, and many foods are still safe to eat afterwards if stored correctly

Store food properly

Store food in the right conditions to make it last longer, for example you can:

• use airtight containers, fridge drawers and freezer bags to keep food fresh
• keep your fridge below 5°C
• reseal packets of dried foods such as cereals, rice, flour and pasta, or transfer them into storage boxes

Freeze surplus food

Use your freezer to prevent food from going to waste, for example you can:

• freeze food you will not use in time
• label items with dates so you know what to use first
• cook a large dish and freeze it in portions for another day
• separate packs of meat and fish into smaller amounts so you only defrost what you need

Find out how to freeze cheese on Love Food Hate Waste.

Fruit and vegetables

Choose loose fruit and vegetables so you only get the amount you need.

Store fruit and vegetables so they stay fresh for longer, for example you can:

• keep most fruit and vegetables in the fridge to extend freshness
• freeze bananas if you will not eat them soon, as they do not keep well in the fridge

Find out how to store bananas on Love Food Hate Waste.

Home composting

Composting suitable food scraps at home is a simple way to reduce unavoidable waste. You can compost fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, plastic‑free tea bags and eggshells. More on home composting. 

More tips on reducing food waste

For more tips on reducing food waste visit:

• www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
• Cheshire East Recycling Service - YouTube

Contact Waste and Recycling