Funding for food waste reduction

Perth and Kinross Council’s waste services unit has been awarded funding of £46,739 to encourage food waste reduction in Kinross-shire and Blairgowrie.

The money has been provided through Sainsbury’s Waste Less, Save More Funding Project.

Schemes that will benefit from the money include the Harvest Project, which has been run in collaboration with Blairgowrie Climate Café.

As part of the initiative, an apple press was recently set up at the Blairgowrie Community Market and 400 litres of apple juice made from local fruit was distributed to market-goers.

Another plan is to create welcome packs, which will include tips on how to cook on a budget, reduce waste and eat a healthy diet, for new council tenants in Blairgowrie and Kinross-shire.

A council spokesperson said: “In Perth and Kinross, on average, a third of the household green bin is made up of food waste. This is destined for landfill but approximately 60% of it would have still been edible if householders had better information about how to plan a shop, store food and how to use leftovers.

“The funding will enable workshops to be delivered in partnership with NHS Tayside, the council’s housing and community safety department, community groups and schools.”

For more information email wasteawareness@pkc.gov.uk or phone 01738 476476.