Food waste makes up about 20% of all the waste that goes in our bins. Food waste rotting in landfill sites contributes to global climate change due to the methane gas produced.
recycle:
Most raw kitchen waste can be composted, although you should avoid meat, fish scraps and cooked waste unless you have a wormery or Green Cone. See Composting.
Scottish Councils in partnership with WRAP are offering discounted compost bins to all residents of Scotland. STIRnetwork also sells bins made from locally sourced reclaimed wood. See Composting for further information.
You can build your own compost bin using an old plastic barrel, dustbin, scrap timber, pallets or old tyres (See Tyres).
A typical UK household throws out £4.80 - £7.70 of food that could have been eaten every week. This is equivalent to £250 - £400 a year, or £15,000 - £24,000 in a lifetime. Reduce food waste by planning what you are going to use before buying it, and resisting Buy One Get One Free or Three for Two offers if you won't be able to eat the food before the use-by date.
For further information on composting, See Composting.