Following the news that half of the world’s food is thrown away, amounting to two billion tonnes of waste a year, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport John Furey said:
“In Surrey alone we throw out enough bread each day to fill a double decker bus and we binned enough salad last summer to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Not only is this a colossal waste of food, it is also bad for your wallet. It is estimated the average family could save up to £50 a month on their shopping bill by using leftovers and shopping smarter.
“However, we are making progress in the fight against food waste in Surrey. A recent evaluation of our Love Food Surrey campaign revealed almost 40% of people surveyed had reduced the amount of food they throw out because of the campaign.
“As consumers we can make a difference through small changes to our behaviour. I’d urge people to check out Love Food Surrey online to find easy hints and tips, recipe ideas and shopping advice on how to waste less and slash shopping bills.“
A study by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers found the world’s food waste was being caused by poor storage, strict sell-by dates, bulk offers and consumer fussiness. The study also found that up to 30% of vegetables in the UK were not harvested because of their physical appearance.
The report, called Global Food; Waste Not, Want Not, claimed that between 30% and 50% of the four billion tonnes of food produced around the world each year went to waste. It suggested that half the food bought in Europe and the US was thrown away.
ENDS
Media requiring more information can contact Surrey County Council senior media relations officer James Oxley on 0208 541 7259 or at james.oxley@surreycc.gov.uk.
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