Families chucking £90 of food per month in the bin, charity says

Families chucking £90 of food per month in the bin, charity says

A recent study has revealed that families in Wales are wasting approximately £90 worth of food every month, contributing to a quarter of the incorrect items found in black bags. The recycling charity, Wrap Cymru, uncovered that a shocking 80% of this discarded food could still be consumed. Despite Wales’ recycling rate being ranked second globally, there is still potential for the country to become the leading nation in waste management if more focus is placed on proper disposal methods.

The Welsh government has set its sights on transforming Wales into a “zero waste nation” by the year 2050. Councils have been advised to limit the collection of general waste to once every three or four weeks in order to promote recycling practices. Food waste, a component collected by all Welsh councils, is utilized to generate renewable energy and produce fertilizers. However, a significant portion of this waste is being disposed of incorrectly, with Wrap Cymru estimating that half of the general waste could be recycled, rising to 60% in Cardiff.

One Cardiff resident, Nia O’Donnell, highlighted the noticeable differences in recycling practices when her family relocated from London to Wales. Embracing the change, the family modified their kitchen unit to accommodate various types of rubbish. Encouraging her children to participate in recycling activities, Ms. O’Donnell emphasized the importance of environmental preservation. Meanwhile, Alun Thomas of Wrap Cymru commended the family’s efforts but advised on further reduction of general waste by utilizing alternative disposal methods such as taking soft plastics to local collection points.

Sustaining efforts to improve recycling rates, Welsh Water’s anaerobic digestion and composting plant in Cardiff Bay repurposes all food waste bags collected from residents in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. With the objective of establishing Wales as a “zero waste nation” by 2050, the government outlines strict guidelines for councils to limit general waste collection frequency and enforce a 60-liter cap on black bag waste per household per week. Despite facing challenges in achieving the 70% recycling rate by 2025, councils are implementing innovative strategies to promote recycling and reduce waste. The Vale of Glamorgan has already surpassed the target, with successful initiatives resulting in substantial material collection for recycling purposes

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