Let’s take on the challenge to waste less food

A leaflet championing the need to waste less food will be delivered to residents across the borough of Bury from today, along with a roll of 52 compostable food waste liners.

The information leaflet details changes to how Bury Council provides free food waste liners and how to make them last, as well as food waste facts, how to waste less food, and how to start composting at home.

In future, liners will be delivered annually to residents and will cease to be provided by crews on collection day, except during the transition period. After the current delivery between January and March, liners will usually be delivered during December, at the same time as the following year’s bin collection calendar.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “In 2023/24 Bury Council must find £31 million more savings on top of the £110 million savings already made since 2010. It currently costs more than £210,000 per year to supply liners, almost double the £109,000 budget. This means we cannot continue to supply liners on demand. “

According to data from WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme):

• 36 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions could be prevented simply by saving food from bins in UK homes
• the average UK family could save over £700 a year simply by taking action to waste less food

Cllr Quinn continued: “We are being upfront about the need to limit free liners due to financial reasons, but there are also strong reasons why we should all waste less food.

“70% of food wasted in the UK comes from our homes - and 25% of this is due to cooking, preparing, or serving too much. If we waste less, it will save us money, help our planet and reduce our need to use as many food waste liners.”

Residents are urged by the council to take on the challenge to waste less food by taking steps such as:

• · organising food cupboards
• · planning ahead and writing a shopping list
• · only buying what is needed
• · measuring portion sizes
• · Keeping an eye on ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ dates
• · freezing foods that can’t be used in time
• · storing bread in a freezer
• · turning leftovers into tasty meals
• · donating unwanted packaged foods
• · composting at home

And to help make liners last, residents should:

• Store liners in a cool, dry place.
• Use liners sparingly and until they are full
• Put some food waste loose inside the brown bin (e.g. vegetable peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds, fruit, eggshells and bread).
• Save compostable liners for items such as raw meat, fish, bones, or messy leftovers.

Home composting, which naturally turns waste into nutrient-rich compost for use in gardens, is a great way to reduce the impact we have on the environment. Visit www.recycleforgreatermanchester.com/composting to save at least £10 on a range of compost bins and benefit from free postage and packaging.

To request a new or replacement brown bin for food waste and garden waste, see www.bury.gov.uk/requestbin