Test- Recipe Hub

Wasting Food: Bad for the Environment and Costly for You

The True Cost of Food Waste

Throwing away food isn’t just wasteful—it’s expensive. On average, buying food we don’t eat costs £250 per person each year, or £1,000 for a family of four. Most of this ends up in household bins, costing Local Authorities (and taxpayers) an extra £510 million annually to collect and treat.

 

The Environmental Impact

Food waste is a major contributor to global emissions, through fuel, transport, agriculture, packaging, manufacturing, retailing and even when we travel to collect food that ends up uneaten.

And here’s the shocking part: 73% of the food we throw away at home could have been eaten if we’d taken more care (Source: WRAP).

Here are recipe’s that will help you use up 6 of the top wasted ingredients in the UK

Bananas

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leicestershire’s Recipe Challenge

During Food Waste Action Week 2023, the Waste Initiatives Team at Leicestershire County Council launched a recipe competition to inspire residents to turn leftovers into delicious meals.

We invited residents—and employees—to share creative recipes using surplus ingredients. The winning dishes were chosen after being tested by Leicestershire’s Community Kitchens, with feedback from the Lead Member for the Environment and Green Agenda at the time.

The winners?

 

Try These Waste-Busting Recipes

Why not see what you can create with what’s already in your cupboards, fridge, or freezer? Here are some of the recipes submitted and tested:

 

Top Tips from Leicestershire Residents

  • Barbara: Slow cooks and freezes meals to save time and energy.
  • Rebecca: Uses leftover chicken and ham to make chicken supreme with soup, stock, and veggies.
  • Val: Makes a hearty stew in the slow cooker with braising steak and leftover vegetables.
  • Sue: Creates bubble and squeak by mixing leftover vegetables, seasoning, and frying in a little oil.