‘Stalling of progress’ in efforts to cut amount of food waste

Millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases generated

Consumers are throwing away £13 billion of edible food from homes a year, figures suggest.

In 2015 the average household wasted £470 worth of food which went in the bin when it could have been eaten, new estimates from waste and recycling expert body Wrap shows.

The latest figures show efforts to tackle food waste from homes have stalled in the past few years, with 7.3 million tonnes thrown away in 2015, compared to seven million tonnes in 2012.

Of the food thrown away, 4.4m tonnes was “avoidable” waste that was edible at some point before it was put in the bin or food waste caddy, such as bread that goes mouldy, compared to 4.2m tonnes in 2012.

The rest were scraps that cannot be eaten such as egg shells, tea bags and pineapple skin.

The avoidable food waste generated 19 million tonnes of greenhouse gases over its lifetime, from being grown or reared to ending up in the bin, and preventing that pollution would be equivalent to taking one in four cars off UK roads, Wrap said.

Falls in food prices and rising incomes since 2014 have reduced the incentive for people to cut their food waste, halting a previous downward trend in the problem, the organisation said.

Between 2007 and 2012, the total amount of household food waste fell 15%, and avoidable food waste dropped by 21%, thanks to a combination of rising food prices, changes to food products and labelling to simplify use by date advice, and campaigning to raise awareness.

But the latest figures show the food industry has failed to meet a commitment to cut household food waste by 5% between 2012 and 2015.

Wrap’s chief executive Marcus Gover said: “I’m calling on all businesses, organisations, campaigners and NGOs who work in this area to unite together in the fight against food waste.”

Picture: PA. In 2015 the average household wasted £470 worth of food.