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Kent produces 40% of all UK apples and a staggering 4.4.
million whole apples are being thrown away every day in the
UK.
Figures revealed by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action
Programme) yesterday show that wasted food in the UK costs £10
billion a year and the average household annually throws out £420*
of good food.
Kent County Council (KCC) is the leading local authority working
with WRAP on its Love Food Hate Waste campaign and is urging Kent
residents to do their part to reduce food waste.
Each year in the UK, £3 billion worth of perfectly good fruit
and vegetables is thrown away and the main reason is because it
isn't eaten before it goes off.
The top five fruit & vegetables that get binned without even
being touched are apples, potatoes, bananas, tomatoes and oranges,
but a simple solution is to change the way fruit and vegetables are
stored when they're taken home.
More than half of those who buy fresh fruit choose to leave it
out at room temperature, but simply storing most fresh fruit and
vegetables in the fridge will keep them fresher for longer -
sometimes by as much as a fortnight.
Keith
Ferrin, KCC Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste
said: "Cutting down on food waste is in everyone's interest and
this research shows that we can make a big difference to both our
food bills and to the environment by simply putting most fruit and
veg in the fridge.
"Particularly here in the Garden of England, it's a real shame
to see so much of own, local produce going to waste."
KCC has been working with the 12 district and borough councils,
local businesses and community groups to support the Love Food Hate
Waste campaign since its start. As well as raising awareness
through bill boards, buses, and posters, the campaign has targeted
schoolchildren with theatre shows and projects to educate them on
ways to reduce food waste.
Useful tips, advice and recipes to avoid food waste are
available on the KCC website at www.kent.gov.uk/lovefoodhatewaste
and reducing food waste by half would be the equivalent of taking
one in five of the nations cars of the roads.
Supermarket chain Sainsburys worked with WRAP to conduct the
research into food waste** and it is also backing the campaign by
trialling new storage guidance to customers both in store and on
its website.
Dr Liz Goodwin, WRAP Chief Executive said:
"These dramatic figures show that although we are all keen to do
the right thing buying plenty of fruit and vegetables, the benefit
is clearly being lost when food gets thrown out untouched.
"By following some simple tips and advice which can be found on our
website, we can all be saving money as well as helping the
environment."
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