Household food waste in Scotland has fallen by an estimated 37,000 tonnes per year since 2009.
The 5.7% overall reduction in waste has saved £92m for Scottish households and has reduced carbon emissions by an approximate 140,000 tonnes per year.
“Household food waste in Scotland has decreased by an estimated 37,000 tonnes per year - 5.7% overall - since 2009, with a reduction of 7.7% overall, or 30,000 tonnes per year, in avoidable food waste,” said cabinet secretary for Rural Affairs, Food & Environment in Scotland Richard Lochhead.
“That’s a great start but I want to see more done. Globally we throw away two billion tonnes of food every year - which is shocking when 840 million people across the world are going hungry. I want Scotland to lead by example.”
“I intend to introduce a food waste target that I believe will be the first such target in Europe. It will place Scotland at the forefront of tackling global food waste, together with the United States, which recently announced a target to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030.”
Currently, 1.4 million tonnes of food waste is generated in Scotland each year, with 600,000 tonnes of this coming from Scottish households.
“As well as saving money, tackling food waste is extremely important for both the environment and wider society - in Scotland and around the globe,” said Zero Waste Scotland chief executive Iain Gulland.`
“More attention is now being paid to preventing it worldwide, so Zero Waste Scotland is very happy to support the Cabinet Secretary’s call for a formal food waste target for Scotland. A target will help us all concentrate on the task of eradicating avoidable food waste as well as demonstrate leadership and commitment the rest of the world might follow.”
No comments yet