Food caddy rollouts may boost recycling, but reducing food waste matters

Councils in England are now required to collect separated food waste for fuel, fertiliser or compost, and researchers say recycling recovers far less energy than is used to produce food. The article highlights shorter-term flexible meal planning and tracking household waste as two evidence-based approaches that may help lower how much food is thrown away.

If you live in England, your council may now provide a food waste caddy. Councils are required to collect separated food waste and turn it into fuel, fertiliser or compost. This change aims to keep food out of landfill and increase recycling. Researchers point out that recycling alone cannot recover most of the energy used to produce food, so reducing waste is also important. Key points: - Councils in England are required to collect separated food waste and convert it into fuel, fertiliser or compost. - Producing, transporting and selling food uses about 40 to 50 times more energy than can be recovered from recycling it, according to the report. - The research highlights two main household approaches linked with lower waste: shorter-term, flexible meal planning and keeping a record of food thrown away. - Tracking how often a caddy is filled can create a feedback loop that helps households compare their goals with actual waste and adjust habits. - The article notes an estimated £17.5 billion of food is wasted annually in the UK, around £1,000 a year for a household of four. Summary: The introduction of food caddies will increase collection and recycling of household food waste, but the authors stress that cutting the total amount of food wasted is needed to reduce food-related emissions. Their research points to flexible meal planning and monitoring waste as approaches associated with lower household food waste. Undetermined at this time.