Leicestershire County Council Supports Food Waste Action Week 2026 

March 4, 2026

 

 

Leicestershire County Council is proud to support Food Waste Action Week 2026, the UK’s biggest annual food waste reduction campaign, running 9–15 March 2026. Delivered by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), the week brings together councils, households, brands and community partners to tackle one of the country’s most urgent environmental and financial challenges: food waste.   

Across the UK, households throw away 4.4 million tonnes of edible food every year, worth £17.5 billion. For a family of four, that’s an average of £1,000 wasted annually. 


With the cost of living continuing to have an impact on household budgets, reducing food waste is one of the fastest and simplest ways to save money while also reducing environmental impact.  

Food Waste Action Week shines a spotlight on these issues and inspires practical changes that residents can make right away — improving wellbeing, cutting waste, and making food go further for families and the planet. 

 

 “Make Your Food Go Fuuuuuuuurther” 

This year’s theme emphasises how simple daily behaviours can stretch food, time and money further while reducing waste. Each day focuses on a different benefit: 

  • Monday – For your money: Stretch your food budget further.  
  • Tuesday – For your time: Save precious minutes with smart food planning.  
  • Wednesday – For our planet: Reduce emissions and protect natural resources.  
  • Thursday – For your health: Enjoy nutritious meals while preventing waste.  
  • Friday – For your headspace: Reduce stress with simple food management habits.  

Through bite-sized actions, the campaign aims to show how preventing waste can improve everyday life in ways that feel positive and achievable. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We want to focus on prevention first — and then recycling what’s left 

As more households across the Leicestershire will get the ability to recycle food waste as part of simpler recycling, it is important to remember this still isn’t the best thing to do with food that is edible. So, to avoid any excess food going into your food waste caddies remember it is better to: 

  • Use creative leftover ideas 
  • Only recycle what genuinely can’t be eaten 

For more information on how to do this, see https://www.lesswaste.org.uk/reduce/love-food-hate-waste/  

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