More than 35% of global CO2 greenhouse gases come from the production and distribution of food. By preventing unnecessary food waste, we can greatly reduce the impact our eating habits are having on climate change.
In West Sussex, food waste makes up a staggering 40% of the average household general waste bin. However, up to 70% of that waste can actually be avoided!
With Food Waste Action Week taking place from 7 to 13 March, now is an excellent time to forge new habits by wasting less while also reducing food bills.
The West Sussex Waste Partnership is tackling food waste through various trials and initiatives. It is also undertaking trials of separate food waste collections to further reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill.
If you have excess or leftover food you can find details on ways to share it and avoid your food going to waste by visiting Food Rescue campaign.
For more top tips, visit the Love Food, Hate Waste website. It's packed with information and inspiration to help you plan meals and make delicious food.
Fans of social media? Don't forget to let others know what you're doing, use the hashtag #WestSussexClimateAction
OLIO is a mobile app that connects people and businesses together, so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away. Food nearing its sell-by date in local stores, spare home-grown vegetables, bread from your baker, or the groceries in your fridge when you go away can be sustainably redistributed throughout your community.
The TooGoodToGo app lets you buy and collect food at a great price so it gets eaten instead of wasted. You won’t know exactly what’s in your order until you pick it up but it’s all part of the surprise! Download the app to get started.
Throughout February and March, Experience West Sussex is highlighting fabulous local food and drink offerings across West Sussex.
Their website features a Foodie Adventures trail map focussing on independent local businesses that offer visitors an authentic experience. Local produce, farm shops and markets are also in the spotlight.
Look out for promotions and competitions across their social media, and sign up to receive heir newsletter. Pictured: Fins & Forks.
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The Locally Sauced Festival is a premium food and lifestyle event celebrating the best of what Sussex has to offer, and it's coming to the county this summer from 23 to 24 July at Victoria Park, Haywards Heath.
With a focus on sustainability, ‘Locally Sauced’ aims to reduce the area's carbon footprint by working with Sussex-based companies, using quality local produce and encouraging customer loyalty amongst our community to lower food miles. Plus, they will be partnering with local charities to minimise food waste and help fight hunger.
With live music, cookery demonstrations, masterclasses, a VIP chef's table, pop-up restaurants, a lifestyle area, plus a children & baby area, it’s set to be a fun-filled weekend the community will be proud of!
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Share your Valentine’s Day love with the environment by recycling your cards and wrapping paper.
And if you received flowers, compost them at home to give a little love back to your garden once the blooms start to fade.
View the A-Z of recycling and download our handy Recyclable items fridge flyer.
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The first solar panels have been installed under the latest round of our Solar Together Sussex scheme, which helps residents fit high-quality solar and battery systems and generate clean electricity for use at home.
This year’s scheme, which we run in partnership with group buying experts iChoosr, attracted more than 7,000 registrations across Sussex from households keen to know whether their home is suitable for a system and how much it might cost from an accredited installer. Two Sussex-based companies have been chosen to conduct the surveys and install the systems.
Solar Together Sussex is currently closed to new customers, but you can find out more about the scheme and register your interest in any future rounds here.
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Selsey residents are working with the county council's Highways team and the Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group to create pollinator-friendly green spaces in the centre of the town.
Eventually, these will form another brand new pollinator highway, opening an essential nature corridor from Selsey to Chichester and the Downs.
Working closely with Selsey Town Council, the group is starting small with three chosen locations, with wildflower seeds provided by the council to get the project going.
‘Pollinator Highways’ is an initiative to link up natural habitats, using road verges as the starting point and forms an important part of our Pollinator Action Plan. Communities are also encouraged by local partners to develop their own wild spaces in their gardens, window boxes and planters creating, crucial pathways for pollinating insects.
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During the summer of 2021, Horsham District Council installed a trial Reuse container at Hop Oast’s Park and Ride to collect donated unwanted furniture and quirky collectables that are still in good condition.
The idea was so successful that they filled two containers and opened a new online shop to sell the donated items to those who need them. All sales revenue generated will go back into funding local reuse and recycling projects.
Keeping good quality products in active use for longer preserves natural resources and prevents waste. It also supports those who are less able to purchase brand new items, and avoids carbon emissions from the manufacture and distribution of new products.
This initiative has been funded by the West Sussex Waste Partnership and managed by Horsham District Council.
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Horsham District Council is using a financial award from the EU’s Welcome Back Fund to design and deliver 'rewilding' projects in and around the local high streets of Henfield, Steyning, Storrington, Pulborough, Southwater, Billingshurst and Horsham Town Centre.
All projects have been developed through a local, collaborative approach and are delivered by volunteers. The aim is not only to 'rewild' high streets but to create a 'welcome back' through safe, fun and engaging activities for communities and visitors alike.
Creative Waves were appointed to work with each local community to help them turn their ideas into reality. The range of projects varies widely across the district, from creating a natural sculpture on Billingshurst village green to replanting Lintot Square in Southwater with pollinator-friendly trees and shrubs. Meanwhile, Horsham town will enjoy a Bug Trail around the town throughout the February half term.
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- Connected Kerb will be delivering a new chargepoint network across the county in partnership with local district and borough councils. To help plan the network, you can still let them know where you would like to see chargepoints located by using this online form.
- A Biodiversity Net Gain consultation has been launched, which sets out proposals for how biodiversity net gain will be applied to the Town and Country Planning Act, and at a higher level, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. The proposals aim to put nature and biodiversity gain at the heart of decision-making and design. The consultation will close on 5 April 2022.
- The Environment Agency continues to consult on its River Basin Management Plan up until 22 April 2022. The consultation covers a new set of plans from 2021 to 2027 and arose after Flood Risk Areas in Worthing and Crawley, were identified as at risk from nationally significant flooding.
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