Scotland wastes 1bn of food a year, survey claims

The report, entitled ‘Food We Waste in Scotland', is the most detailed survey on this subject undertaken by the resource efficiency body to date, involving a survey of 1,169 households across the country to gauge levels of food waste disposal and the most common food materials sent to landfill.

This new research shows the massive financial and environmental burden of food waste

 
Iain Gulland, WRAP Scotland

In the document, WRAP Scotland claim that 570,000 tonnes of food and drink is disposed of each year, which could be avoided with

the use of better planning, storage and preparation. WRAP Scotland said this loss equates to £430 lost a year for the average household.

Launching the report, Iain Gulland, WRAP director for Scotland said: “This new research shows the massive financial and environmental burden of food waste. Scottish households are throwing out huge amounts of food, most of which could have been eaten, and this costs us dearly.”

“Not only are we paying for this food at the checkout, we are also paying to dispose of it through our council tax. This is a terrible waste in these difficult economic times,” he added.

Survey

Based on the survey of Scottish households, WRAP Scotland found that the most common items thrown away were milk (31,000 tonnes annually), sliced bread (25,000 tonnes), fizzy drinks (23,000 tonnes), potatoes (19,000 tonnes) and ready meals or snacks (14,000 tonnes). In addition, 96,000 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables were disposed of.

Half of the food thrown out for council collection was whole and uneaten, with one in seven items still in its packaging. And, WRAP Scotland found that at least £18 million worth of the latter was still within its ‘use by' or ‘best before' date.

Dr Nicki Souter, Waste Aware Scotland campaign manager, said: “This report being so detailed truly shows the public how much food is currently wasted in Scotland. The reasons we waste are food are that we cook or prepare too much or we buy things and then don't use them in time.”

Zero Waste

Commenting on the report, environment secretary Richard Lochhead said: “I'm sure most people would agree that it's shocking to think that society needlessly wastes £1 billion of food each year in Scotland. As well as the financial strain on households, the equivalent of £8 to £10 a week, food and packaging add considerably to our waste stream.”

The publication of the study comes two weeks after the Scottish Government launched the consultation of its draft Zero Waste Plan, which outlined the means by which Scotland intends to achieve its Zero Waste goals of 70% recycling by 2025 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Mr Lochhead said: “Food waste is one of many issues currently being addressed in the Government's draft Zero Waste Plan, which I would urge people to have their say on. The Plan is about everyone making smarter day-to-day choices that will take us further down the road towards becoming a zero waste society.”