Residents urged to recycle food waste
Residents across Wales are being urged to do their bit to help cut down the estimated 6.6 million tonnes of food waste which is thrown away by UK households every year.
Ahead of National Recycle Week Flintshire Council visited a coffee morning at Wales & West Housing’s Sydney Hall Court in Connah’s Quay to provide resources and advice on food waste recycling.
As well as having the opportunity to collect items like new kitchen caddies and food recycling bags, attendees took part in a quiz to discover some facts about food waste.
“So much energy can be created from food waste and this is what happens in Flintshire, with the waste we collect from households being sent to a food processing plant to create renewable energy.”
Michelle Shaw, Flintshire Council
It’s thought that almost three quarters of food thrown away is food which could be eaten.
Michelle Shaw from Flintshire Council’s recycling waste team led the session.
“Food waste is one of the biggest issues which we are facing at the moment, not just in Flintshire but across the country,” she said. “It’s believed that 30 per cent of food waste is being disposed of in black bins along with other non-recyclable items.
“This creates problems with smells and attracting vermin due to the bags only being collected every two weeks, but also we are losing out on the great benefits of recycling food.
“So much energy can be created from food waste and this is what happens in Flintshire, with the waste we collect from households being sent to a food processing plant to create renewable energy.”
National Recycle Week runs from 16-22 October 2023 and this year’s theme is The Big Recycling Hunt.
Recycle Week is calling on children aged 5 to 11 to take the lead in protecting our planet. With a week of fun activities, the campaign wants to empower the youth to become active participants in building a sustainable future.
The nationwide hunt aims to engage children and families in the quest to find ‘lost recyclables’ that too often find their way into the rubbish bin. By focusing on commonly missed items such as empty aerosols, plastic cleaning product bottles, plastic toiletry bottles, plastic pots and tubs, and food tins, Recycle Now wants to foster a deeper understanding of recycling in the younger generation.
Recycle Week is organised by WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme, a climate action group which aims to tackle the causes of climate change around the world.
Harriet Lamb, CEO of WRAP, says: “The importance of this initiative extends beyond Recycle Week. By empowering children with the knowledge and tools to become recycling advocates, we are not only nurturing the future but also ensuring a healthier and more sustainable world for all. Join us in celebrating Recycle Week and empowering the next generation of environmental champions!”
To find out more about Recycle Week 2023 visit https://www.recyclenow.com/news-and-campaigns/recycle-week#Recycle-Week-2023
Further information about recycling in Wales is available from Wales Recycles.