What can be done to reduce food waste?

ViolaLass

VfM4meplse wrote: »

When there are people queuing up at food banks, it's more a question of effective distribution.

Is it? If I, for example, waste a load of meat, how does that affect someone at a food bank? Equally, if I don't waste it, do they really benefit?

JCS1

ariarnia wrote: »

Taking a slightly different approach...

Require businesses with more than x (10?) number of on site staff to provide food storage and heating/cooking facilities (microwave, fridge, kettle, maybe toaster) and food waste (recycling) facilities.

Use incentives (thinking relaxing benefit in kind rules) to encourage businesses to run and employees to use subsidised canteens where possible - ensuring staff have access to at least one 'cheap' hot low waste meal a day.

Two cross cutting suggestions which would reduce national food waste and impact on key health objectives.

I thought there were no benefit in kind issues if the restaurant/canteen was available to all staff?

ariarnia

JCS1 wrote: »

I thought there were no benefit in kind issues if the restaurant/canteen was available to all staff?

Sorry - clumsy wording on my part.

If it's subsidised or free for all staff there are no P11D implications as the employer pays all costs and there is no cost to the employee.

If the free or subsidised food is in place of part of your salary (salary sacrifice or a flexible remuneration arrangement), their are tax implications as it is a benefit in leu of salary.

A flexi benefit system can be great for employees, but many employers are put off by the admin of individual P11D processing.

Reducing this burden would potentially cut income tax, but also reduce businesses running costs for the schemes and support employees health and wellbeing

june89

While it doesn't directly reduce food waste, it should be mandatory for all councils to have a food waste collection service. Mine doesn't offer this at all (not even an optional resident paid scheme) even though they openly acknowledge most of the landfill waste produced in our area is food and its packaging. It may have the indirect bonus of making people more aware of how much they're wasting, and therefore create natural reduction.

Soworried

PasturesNew wrote: »

Get yourself a seaside kids' bucket and spade set ... scoop it into the bucket, then keep a pile of it at home and use one bag for many poos at your leisure

And/or, garden size depending, dig yourself dog poo pits to fill.

We walk for miles over fields, carrying a bucket would be too smelly and bulky :rotfl:

JackieO wrote: »

Originally Posted by Soworried View Post
<<I do need to find an alternative to dog poo bags as I currently buy the cheapest and they are not sustainable.>>

Depending where you live ,our local council give out doggy bags at the local library and council offices for dog owners, we can also get free recycling bags there as well. Well done Medway Council for this service.

JackieO

Thanks, It is the sustainability that concerns me. The fact that I am throwing 2-3 plastic bags away every single day.
I need to look at buying ones that bio degrade but that don't cost a fortune. I currently buy basic nappy sacks as they smell nice and are far cheaper than dog poo bags. 300 for 35p.

VintageLady

I think that this is more to do with cultures within our society and while cultures are difficult to change and take time they can be changed through education. Education for people off all ages as to how to cook, diet and nutrition, and also budgeting and home finances. I had great role models in my parents when it came to these types of things and also I went out of my way to learn myself but not everyone has this in their lives. I remember being really frustrated in food technology at school because I wanted to cook but what we actually did was draw packaging and look at mass production.

Another issue that I feel we have in our society is how far removed the consumer is from the supplier both physically but also mentally. I think a lot of people have no idea where their food comes from, and sometimes don't want to acknowledge it either (i.e. meat comes from an animal) and then are shocked to find out there's horse meat in their ready meal.

I think I could talk for a long time about all of this but it potentially get off topic and I think I'd be echoing what a lot of people have already said.

Prothet_of_Doom

Why is it a problem ? To me personally ?

Why should I think it's a problem ?

If you want to stop food waste, you have to convince me and millions of others that it's a problem that needs solving.

Having said that, I don't waste that much food, because I don't like to waste money.

I have a problem with potatoes and my wife. She will throw them away if they have started sprouting. I've taken to doing a check on the potatoes and removing the roots. But I also took a packet out of the bin and randomly planted them all over the garden. As we head into winter I'll harvest them.

Blue_Doggy

Having just read the whole thread, the following comments spring to mind:

- what's the problem with BOGOFs? It's an offer, not a command, if you don't want the second item, don't take it, (or else take it and donate it to the Food Bank - many supermarkets have collection points).

- buying loose food is fine, as long as you haven't seen it pawed over, squeezed (and rejected) or dropped on the floor by other shoppers or their kids. It was better when the shopkeeper had her/his beady eye on the customers - doesn't happen in supermarkets.

- train the young people filling the fresh fruit and veg shelves in supermarkets not to handle the produce roughly or tip it from a height - that bruises the produce which makes it rot sooner, and leads to its being discarded. AND when they've been trained, make sure they practice gentle handling.

- for produce derived from animals (including fish and eggs) teach respect for life - none of these items is there without a life's having been taken, and to waste animal-derived food is to disrespect those lives.

- ready meals can be a boon for very old people: I've known more than one who has peeled veg, prepared a meal (with arthritic hands), and then fallen asleep while the meal is cooking - in at least one case the Fire Brigade had to be called. Or they labour to prepare the meal and then can't face eating it. Communal kitchens in public halls (using up the "waste" from the shops (actually needs a better description of the produce, but "waste" will have to do)) might be a good answer, but need to be more than the once a week they often are, provide transport especially in winter and lose the taint of patronisation.

- please don't tax sugar - how would I manage to make jams and jellies from the BOGOF soft fruits bonanza? Freezing and bottling-in-water are fine, but jam is nice too! (where is the 'smilie' for "slightly tongue in cheek?!)

Sorry for the long post.

LameWolf

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I think I must be having "sense of humour failure" at the thought of the Government telling me to fast ever......:cool:

I think the occasional one or two day fast might - possibly - be a good idea for peoples health. But if I have never been able to persuade myself into doing so voluntarily - then the thought of any Government trying to compel me into it comes under the heading of "living dangerously" (ie the Government would be doing so...:rotfl:). My stomach is very regular in its demands to be fed and I could soon see it "going on strike" and refusing to comply if I tried to do any
different.....

I have a hard enough time eating in the first place - when my husband was working (he retired last March) it was common for me to totally forget to have any lunch. If I was forced to fast, I'd find it nigh on impossible to eat again the next day.

And I'd say it would be highly dangerous for people with certain illnesses.

VfM4meplse

Blue_Doggy wrote: »

Having just read the whole thread, the following comments spring to mind:

- what's the problem with BOGOFs? It's an offer, not a command, if you don't want the second item, don't take it, (or else take it and donate it to the Food Bank - many supermarkets have collection points).

- buying loose food is fine, as long as you haven't seen it pawed over, squeezed (and rejected) or dropped on the floor by other shoppers or their kids. It was better when the shopkeeper had her/his beady eye on the customers - doesn't happen in supermarkets.

- train the young people filling the fresh fruit and veg shelves in supermarkets not to handle the produce roughly or tip it from a height - that bruises the produce which makes it rot sooner, and leads to its being discarded. AND when they've been trained, make sure they practice gentle handling.

- for produce derived from animals (including fish and eggs) teach respect for life - none of these items is there without a life's having been taken, and to waste animal-derived food is to disrespect those lives.

- ready meals can be a boon for very old people: I've known more than one who has peeled veg, prepared a meal (with arthritic hands), and then fallen asleep while the meal is cooking - in at least one case the Fire Brigade had to be called. Or they labour to prepare the meal and then can't face eating it. Communal kitchens in public halls (using up the "waste" from the shops (actually needs a better description of the produce, but "waste" will have to do)) might be a good answer, but need to be more than the once a week they often are, provide transport especially in winter and lose the taint of patronisation.

- please don't tax sugar - how would I manage to make jams and jellies from the BOGOF soft fruits bonanza? Freezing and bottling-in-water are fine, but jam is nice too! (where is the 'smilie' for "slightly tongue in cheek?!)

Taxation on one item (sugar) is not going to ruin anyone's lifestyle by pricing them out of the market. It's when all people eat is processed and sugar-laden foods (sweet and savoury) that the additional costs should become prohibitive - even at BoGoF.

The rest of the post I agree with.