This Earth Day, lets cut food waste

Earth Day was celebrated last month on 22 April and was a good reminder that we don’t have to think big when it comes to making changes for the planet.

One of the easiest ways to help is by wasting less food, and we don’t have to wait for Earth Day to change our habits.

When food is thrown away, it’s not just the food itself that’s wasted. All the energy, fuel and resources used to grow, produce, package and transport it are thrown away too. This adds to climate change and puts unnecessary pressure on the environment.

The good news is that there are simple things we can all do to cut food waste here in Somerset.

You can help by:

• planning meals and shopping with a list
• buying only what you know you’ll use
• using up leftovers or freezing extra portions
• storing food properly so it lasts longer

Some food waste is unavoidable, such as peelings, bones, tea bags and eggshells. These shouldn’t go in your rubbish bin. Instead, put them in your food waste recycling container. Food waste collected in Somerset is collected weekly, so no smelly bins, its turned into energy and fertiliser, helping to cut general waste and reducing emissions.

By wasting less food and recycling what you can’t avoid, you’re helping Somerset – and the wider planet – take a step in the right direction.