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Reducing food waste

09/02/2009

The next phase of the Go Greener campaign kicks off today with advice for hard-pressed families on how to enjoy the food they buy, save money and help save the planet by reducing food waste.

Fronted by Mr Earth, the 'Go Greener' campaign will be using radio, outdoor and online advertising to highlight that the average family could save up to £410 each year by making use of food that would otherwise have been thrown away.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

"Unless we take decisive action now to protect our environment there is every chance that rather than passing on our wonderful heritage, we will have to explain to our children why we ruined it.

"Recent years have seen a growing awareness of the need to change our ways, including recycling more, being more energy-efficient and leaving the car at home.

"Today's see a fresh drive to raise awareness of the benefits, both to the planet and to people's pockets, of ensuring food isn't thrown away, through our Mr Earth character, already a familiar face on the nation's billboards and TV screens.

"The figures on the financial value of how much we waste are staggering, and particularly relevant with Scotland in recession and many hard pressed families feeling the pinch.

"And of course, there is an environmental cost to wasted food ending up as landfill, releasing methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, which should not be underestimated. Around a third of what we buy ends up in the bin.

"There are a number of easy ways to save food from the bin, including proper storage, thinking about portion sizes, planning meals and using leftovers to make another meal.

"We owe it to future generations and our wallets today to take action now and I would urge everyone to go to www.infoscotland.com/gogreener

to go greener."

Key facts on waste food include:

• The average Scottish household wastes £410 of food every year
• Nearly £889 million worth of food is thrown out by Scottish households every year
• The above amount of food wasted equates to a 50 litre bin of food needlessly thrown out
• 57 per cent of all food waste could have been used if managed and sorted better
• If all Scottish households stopped wasting food, it would have an environmental impact equal to taking one in four cars off the road
• Eight per cent of the food we throw away is still in date
• 23 per cent of the food thrown away every year is still in its packaging or whole

Reducing waste is one of the simple yet effective actions the Scottish Government is promoting as part of its 'Go Greener' campaign.