A project to help householders save money while reducing food waste is celebrating a significant funding boost this week.
The British Dietetic Association (BDA) has received £25,000 from the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) Community Fund to run the ‘Let’s Get Saving in Merseyside’ scheme which will see cookery training at community clubs and schools to raise awareness of, and help reduce, household food waste. Locally, the project will be delivered by Let’s Get Cooking.
An estimated 140,000 tonnes of food is wasted in Merseyside each year, including a lot of food waste which could still be used. It is this behaviour that the project is hoping to change.
The Let’s Get Merseyside Saving clubs will teach participants how to reduce the amount of food wasted; how to plan, shop, and cook efficiently; understand food labelling; cook with leftovers; store food correctly; and make the most of their freezer. Participants will learn about correct portion sizes and portion control measures to reduce wastage.
Participants will also be encouraged to think about their food packaging waste, how to store food correctly to increase shelf life, and how they can re-use everyday packaging items.
Let’s Get Cooking project manager, Suzanne Mitchell, said: “Learning to cook gives participants control over what they’re eating. By using the Let’s Get Cooking recipes participants will be able to cook low cost, healthy meals from scratch. It’s good for them and it’s good for the environment. The funding is crucial to deliver the project and it’s very apt to make the announcement during Recycle Week 2019!”
Councillor Tony Concepcion, Chairperson of MRWA, said: “Food waste is a big issue with significant environmental impact. Analysis shows around a third of a Merseyside household bin is made up of food waste. As well as that householders could save money – by shopping smarter, using a shopping list and buying only what they need, a family of four could save up to £70 a month.”