Around 1.9 million tonnes of food is wasted by the food industry each year in the UK, and much of the food that is thrown out is perfectly edible. Although food waste doesn’t have the same issues as say, plastic, most of it still ends up in landfill and this can have a negative effect on the environment. Food waste produces large amounts of methane as it decomposes, and this greenhouse gas is a significant contributor to climate change (and 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide in terms of trapping heat).
Many people also have ethical concerns when it comes to wasting food and it’s important that we all work consciously to reduce the amount of food that’s wasted. Whether you run a restaurant or simply want to cut down on food waste at home, see below for four simple ways to reduce how much food you throw away
Get creative with leftovers
Many of us keep leftovers with good intentions in mind, only to throw them away a few days later. You might not want to eat the same meal for several days in a row, so get creative with leftover ingredients and see what you can come up with. BBC Good Food even has a whole section dedicated to leftover recipes, on their website here.
Compost
If you have a garden, set up a compost bin in the corner and save any food waste to use as fertilizer. Compost is rich in many nutrients that plants need, so you’ll have a healthier garden and do your bit for the environment too! You can even use a small countertop composter if you don’t have a garden and use the compost for indoor plants or herbs.
Plan your meals
It sounds simple, but so many people go to the supermarket with only a vague idea of what meals they want to make. Planning your meals at the start of each week helps you to buy only what you need and you’ll probably save money in the long run too. You could also batch cook meals for lunch at the start of the week or freeze portions for when you need something quick and convenient.
Store food correctly
Often, food goes off quicker than it should because it wasn’t stored correctly, leading to premature ripening and spoilage. Most people keep potatoes and garlic out of the fridge, but did you know that you shouldn’t refrigerate tomatoes or cucumber either? Some foods also produce high amounts of ethylene gas as they ripen, so should be separated from foods which are ethylene sensitive. Foods with high amounts of ethylene include bananas, avocados, tomatoes, pears and peaches.
If you’re unable to completely eliminate food waste, the next best thing is to ensure it’s disposed of properly. Here at Brewsters, we’re proud to offer professional food waste disposal services for your business in London and we’re dedicated to minimising the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Our nearby anaerobic digestion facility transforms food waste into renewable energy, and we can recycle many different types, including agricultural waste, bakery waste, packaged food waste and more. For more information about our food disposal services, give us a call today or visit our website.