ipswich.gov.uk

Waste and recycling vehicles in Suffolk are now displaying new artwork to help deliver the food savvy message and cut food waste across the county.

Over 50,000 tonnes of food gets thrown away in Suffolk every year, and an estimated average of £730 of edible food goes to waste per household each year.

The fleet of 24 vehicles display the new banners, which have three simple messages with easy advice for people to follow.

• Bananas – one of the most commonly wasted food items across the UK. You can bake with them or blend them rather than throw them in the bin.
• Bread – another of the most commonly wasted food items. You can freeze or toast bread to prevent it from being wasted.
• Freezing - food storage is key to preventing food waste. Check the dates on your food and remember to freeze it when it is nearly out of date. Bread, bananas, cheese and even milk can all be frozen!

Cllr James Mallinder, Chair of the Suffolk Waste Partnership, said: “The new banners are bright and colourful and will catch people’s attention to encourage them to be food savvy in 2021.

“Bananas and bread are two of the most commonly wasted foods, and this is a great way to show simple methods of putting them to use instead of throwing them away. Freezing is also a great way to store food for longer and save it from the bin.

“During the current lockdown we are all spending much more time at home, so it is a good time to keep an eye on the food in your kitchen and take some simple steps to reduce food waste and save money.

“Wasted food is a waste of natural resources so by cooking better we will be helping the planet and tackling our climate concerns. The smallest of changes can make a big difference over time.”

The new banners were designed by Suffolk Waste Partnership’s Food Savvy campaign partner Hubbub.

For more information on how to reduce your food waste and save money visit:

www.foodsavvy.org.uk