Food Waste Prevention Week workshops and training

BUSINESSES in Oban can get free support to cut food waste and save money during Food Waste Prevention Week – a series of training, events and workshops from Monday March 5 to Friday March 9.

The Scottish Government has set a target to reduce food waste by 33 per cent by 2025. As part of this campaign, Zero Waste Scotland’s Resource Efficient Scotland programme has teamed up with Argyll and Bute Council and Food from Argyll to help Oban businesses increase profits and reduce their environmental impact.

Iain Gulland, Zero Waste Scotland’s chief executive, said: ‘We are delighted to bring the Food Waste Prevention Roadshow to Oban to help local businesses cut the cost of waste, while doing their bit for the environment. Food waste can have a big cost for businesses, but with research suggesting that up to 75 per cent of this could be avoided, handling food more efficiently can unlock big savings.

‘I’m encouraging all business owners or managers looking to boost their profits to come along to these beneficial events. The week begins with a ‘What’s in your kitchen?’ cookery demonstration and tasting session at the Rockfield Centre, Stevenson Street, on Monday March 5 from 7pm to 9pm. The event is open to everyone and will provide helpful tips on how to make the most of food.’

On Tuesday March 6, Resource Efficient Scotland will host a webinar to launch an initiative to help Oban businesses redistribute leftover food to those in need.

The webinar will showcase an innovative online platform run by Plan Zheroes which enables businesses to donate their surplus food to local charities and community groups, ensuring no food goes to waste. The webinar will be broadcast live between 11am and noon.

Oban businesses are then invited to join a half-day food waste prevention training workshop. The event will share the latest techniques and knowledge and provide delegates with valuable new skills that will help them tackle food waste. The workshop will be held on Wednesday March 7 from 10am to 1.30pm at The Royal Hotel, Oban.

Oban Food Waste Prevention Week is part of Zero Waste Scotland's Resource Efficient Circular Economy Accelerator Programme, which will invest £6million in Highland and Islands resource efficiency projects until December 2019, thanks to support from the European Regional Development Fund.

Businesses can find out more and register for the Food Waste Prevention Roadshow workshops by visiting www. resourceefficientscotland.com/ ObanFWPWeek or calling 0808 808 2268.