Isle of Wight Council Urges Residents to Cut Food Waste During National Campaign

The Isle of Wight Council is backing Food Waste Action Week, the UK’s biggest annual campaign to reduce food waste, run by WRAP through its Love Food Hate Waste initiative.

The campaign highlights simple steps households can take to cut waste, save money, and help the environment.

Food waste remains a major issue nationally.

WRAP reports that UK households throw away 4.4 million tonnes of edible food each year, producing around 16 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

That wasted food is worth an estimated £17.5 billion, with the average family of four losing roughly £1,000 annually.

With around 60% of all UK food waste coming from homes, small changes in daily routines can have a big impact.

The Council is encouraging residents to:

• Plan meals in advance and buy only what’s needed

• Reinvent leftovers into new meals

• Use a food caddy for unavoidable scraps like peelings and cores

  
  

Natasha Dix, Service Director for Waste, Environment and Planning at the Isle of Wight Council, said:

“Food waste is not just an environmental issue; it’s an economic and moral one.

"Food Waste Action Week reminds us that meaningful change doesn’t require grand gestures.

"Planning meals, using leftovers creatively, and recycling unavoidable scraps are simple steps that, taken together, make a real difference.

"If every household on the Isle of Wight makes small changes, the impact for our community and our environment will be significant.”

Residents can find practical advice, recipe ideas, and tips on reducing food waste at the Love Food Hate Waste website: https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/foods-and-recipes.

Households can also order a free food waste caddy from the Isle of Wight Council via its website or by calling 823777.

Making better use of food not only reduces waste but also saves time and money while helping to tackle climate change.