Published: Friday 4 March 2022
Find out how to cut down on food waste, save money and help the environment this Food Waste Action Week, 7-13 March. The aim of Food Waste Action Week is to create lasting change that helps to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goal of halving global food waste by 2030.
In Kensington and Chelsea around 30% of all waste is food waste. If food waste were a country, it would have the third biggest carbon footprint in the world.
Cutting your food waste doesn’t have to be hard. From freezing food to using up leftovers there are lots of ways to make your food go further and avoid food from going to landfill.
A free event at Portobello Market on Friday 11 March, 10am – 4pm, will include top tips to help people reduce their food waste and offer free giveaways including discount vouchers for composters and Freshpod sachets which helps to keep your food fresh for longer. This event is part of the council’s drive to reduce household waste, increase reuse and recycling, and help to keep the borough clean and green.
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, Lead member for environment said:
“We are already taking steps to reduce food waste in Kensington and Chelsea but around one-third of all the waste we collect in comes from food. Waste reduction is a major factor in how we protect our environment for the future
“Using what we have at home is a great way to help the environment. At our food waste action week event residents can learn how small changes such as using leftovers or composting can help collectively reduce our food waste in the borough.”
The borough’s world-famous markets play a vital role in reducing food waste. As part of the Council's new five year Markets Plan being published soon, sustainability initiatives will be introduced such as promoting traders who used plastic-free produce.
At the event residents can expect:
- Get a free freshpod (a sachet that helps to keep your food fresh for longer) and learn about food storage advice.
- Find out about our local community fridge and how they can be a part of it.
- Attend a composter demonstration and learn how they can get a 40% discount on selected composters.
Throughout the week we will be giving out useful tips on the easiest ways to reduce waste like freezing food, and composting leftovers.
Food Waste Action is an initiative run by Wrap a charity who promote and encourage sustainable resource use through product design, waste minimisation, re-use, recycling.