Recycle Devon
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Home
  • What’s on
  • At Home
  • In the Garden
  • At the Shops
  • At School
  • Menu Menu

Food Waste Action Week 2023

Quiz time!

Q. What is the greatest percentage of our black bin waste in Devon?

  • Plastic packaging
  • Food
  • Glass

You may be surprised to learn that food waste is the culprit! Nearly a third (28.2%) of our black bin waste is food, compared to 10.5% plastic packaging and 2.3% glass.

We are still throwing away huge amounts of food on a regular basis and it’s not just peelings and inedible items. A recent study found that 79% of food found in people’s black bin was avoidable and a whopping 35% is still packaged.

Food Waste Action Week 2023 (6th to 12th March) is the perfect time to look at how we can make our food go further and save money, time and the planet.

Recycle Devon is supporting the national Food Waste Action Week campaign which encourages residents to “Win. Don’t Bin” by offering tips and recipe ideas.

It seems we massively underestimate the carbon impact of food production and consumption. Globally, it is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for 30% of man-made CO2e greenhouse gases. Much of the food produced is wasted in the home, with UK households throwing away 4.5 million tonnes of food that could have been eaten.

A Waste Resource Action Programme (WRAP) Food Trends survey undertaken in 2021 found that we are already taking some measures to reduce food waste, such as checking the fridge before shopping, keeping track of food in the fridge, using food before it reaches the date label and using up leftovers. However, it also highlighted waste saving actions that we are less likely to use, such as checking the fridge temperature, making a weekly meal plan, avoiding unplanned purchases and labelling items before storing in the fridge and freezer.

Many of us adopted these good habits during the Covid–19 pandemic which resulted in a significant drop in food waste. Self-reported amounts of wasted bread, potatoes, milk and chicken dropped substantially in the first lockdown (by 43%) and for a time remained well below pre-pandemic levels. However, the latest finding demonstrates that food waste is increasing back towards 2018 levels.

As we have gradually returned to normal post Covid, busy lifestyles and eating out regularly has made it hard for these good habits to continue. However, the increasing cost of living is now squeezing many household budgets, with over half (52%) of UK households surveyed expressing concerns.

Reducing food waste and making food go further is one area that can help keep household expenses down. For tips and recipes, follow Recycle Devon’s Facebook, Instagram or Twitter feeds during Food Waste Action Week 2023.

For more food waste saving tips, visit the Love Food Hate Waste pages and take a look at our “Have Your Food And Eat It” recipe book.

  • Reusable period products
  • The BIG FIX 2023
  • Valentine’s Day 2023
  • Have a magical Christmas, without breaking the bank!
  • DIY Pampering Essentials
view all blogs
Don't let Devon go to waste logo.

Contact Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Privacy Policy | Accessibility | Accessibility Help | © 2023 RecycleDevon.org

Scroll to top
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT