ecobirmingham are here to help you take steps to live a greener lifestyle. Let’s talk about food waste.
According to WRAP (a charity working to reduce waste, develop sustainable products and use resources in an efficient way), commercial and industrial businesses in the food sector waste 2.9 million tonnes of food per year, valued at over £5.2 million. Household food waste in 2018 was 6.6 million tonnes with 4.5 million tonnes of that being edible.
There are several community groups and organisations working across Birmingham and the country to tackle food waste – and you can help them reduce food waste too!
- The Real Junkfood Project – food that would otherwise go to waste from supermarkets, restaurants and other sources is turned it into healthy, nutritious meals for all on a “Pay-As-You-Feel” basis. The Birmingham branch host regular cafes in Kings Heath, Balsall Heath, Ladywood, Hodge Hill and Winson Green; have a Sharehouse supermarket where you can pay-as-you-feel in Winson Green, and a Freegan food box scheme.
- Too Good To Go – this app allows you to buy surplus meals from local cafes and restaurants at reduced prices.
- Olio – is an app that connects neighbours with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away.
- Foodcycle – providing three-course meals for those hungry and lonely using surplus food.
How can you make a difference in your own home?
- Buy and cook only what you need – it’s as easy as planning meals in advance!
- Use leftovers – get creative with leftovers and make sure throwing them away is a last resort. The Love Food Hate Waste and BBC Good Food websites have some great suggestions for recipes using leftovers.
- Batch cooking and freezing – make more than you need, freeze for another day or have the extra portion for lunch the next day.
- Compost – most fruit and vegetables can be composted, as can teabags and cardboard. Our friends at Garden Organic have some great advice on starting composting.
- Stay organised – check expiration dates on products and ensure you use those before the longer lasting items.
Looking to make steps towards a green(er) future? Found this article useful? Why not share this with someone else who may find it useful.
We’re working on a new project aiming to inspire and help households make greener choices in their lives. Please help us identify what would help you by filling in our (very) short survey here.
Together we can make Birmingham a greener and healthier place to live. Donations from people like you are essential to ensure we can continue our important work across the city. Find out how you can help us tackle the big environmental issues in Birmingham here.