Communities in Leeds are being challenged by Love Food Hate Waste to make the most of their freezers – and get to know how freezing and defrosting food can help to save money and reduce food waste – at this week’s Big Freeze event on Briggate, Leeds.
The latest figures reveal that wasting food costs the average Leeds household £470 a year, rising to £700 for a family with children; the equivalent of around £60 a month.
The Big Freeze, which takes place on Saturday 17 October, will provide practical advice and top tips to local people about foods that can be frozen (and how to use them) to help save money – and the environment.
There will be interactive games, giveaways and competitions – all designed to help people make the most of the freezer and enjoy mouth-watering meals made by mixing and matching frozen and fresh food.
Emma Marsh, Head of Love Food Hate Waste, said:
“As we look for ways to save money on our household bills, many of us aren’t aware that food waste not only hits us in the pocket – almost £60 a month – but also has a serious impact on the environment. No good food needs to go to waste and it’s easy for us all to make a difference. Love Food Hate Waste has some great tips, recipes, tools and solutions to help you join the growing number of people across Leeds who are reducing their food waste and saving money today.”
Laura Babbs, Sustainability Manager, Asda said: “We are proud to be part of the Love Food Hate Waste 10 cities campaign in Leeds. At Asda, we want to make sure that all the food our customers buy ends up on their plate and not in the bin. Our work with Leeds University shows that Love Food Hate Waste events improve people’s intention to reduce food waste. So, we can’t wait for the Big Freeze and to help the people of Leeds reduce their food waste.”
Almost 50% of the 15 million tonnes of food thrown away in the UK comes from our homes. Together we throw away 7 million tonnes of it and more than half could have been eaten. Buying and then throwing away good food and drink costs us £12.5 billion a year. If we ate it, instead of wasting it, the impact on our environment would be the equivalent of taking 1 in 4 cars off the road.
Love Food Hate Waste is aiming to help the people of West Yorkshire know more about why throwing away good food and drink is an issue, and give them all the help they need to take simple actions at home today and start by doing one thing differently.
Leeds’ Big Freeze event takes place on Briggate, Leeds on Saturday 17 October between 9am-4pm.