Don’t throw your cash in waste bin

YOU’D never dream of throwing cash into the kitchen waste bin…

And yet millions of us do it every single day.

A damning report has revealed that over £10billion worth of food is chucked away by households in the UK each year.

This is mainly due to us binning stuff when it reaches “best before” or “sell by” dates (not to be confused with the more serious “use by” date).

Putting this into perspective, it means every one of us is essentially throwing £200 cash straight into the garbage.

Given that we recycle other rubbish these days, I am guessing that whatever benefit this brings is undone by this shocking waste of food.

Besides the fact that we are wasting food and our hard-earned cash it is also scandalous given that so many people rely on food banks simply to survive.

Just think how many people could be helped with the amount of food we bin each and every day.

Now, the reason I am writing about this isn’t to encourage you guys to be less wasteful, although I do still want us all to be more careful with food waste for obvious reasons.

No, this time I want to have a very firm pop at the supermarkets as I have noticed something which is making my blood boil.

Over the last 12 months I have shopped in four different major supermarkets and I have noticed a trend in all of them.

Best before dates and sell by dates are being taken to the absolute limits on the shelves. Every day I am seeing large numbers of items with a best before date and/or sell by date being sold on the last day, or within 24 hours of hitting the date.

Items such as bread, milk, fresh fruit and vegetables along with many dried and canned goods are among those spotted.

It’s clear to me that supermarkets have changed their strategy when it comes to stock replenishment.

They are hiding behind the country’s desire to reduce waste in a cynical attempt to increase profits.

I will start to name and shame via my social media accounts, using pictures, over the coming months. But in the mean time I would like you to let me know of any offenders you have noticed.

Tweet any images of ridiculously soon best before or sell by dates to @RichFenton or find Doesn’t Grow On Trees on Facebook and use the hash tag #StopFoodWasteNow.