York, 21st November 2018: Following a meeting of the Biobased and Biodegradable Industries Association, NNFCC have announced that they have joined the Food Waste Coalition, which aims to reduce the environmental impacts caused by disposal of food waste in the UK.
The coalition aims to create a powerful movement that is united around a common vision, and is calling on the government to fast track universal food waste collections across England.
The UK produces 10 million tonnes of food waste per
year, with 7.1 million tonnes produced by households.* 40% of household food waste is considered unavoidable and therefore requires efficient disposal and recycling systems.
In April, the European Parliament approved an update to EU waste legislation, including a revision of the Waste Framework Directive. The package included the mandatory separate collection of bio-waste throughout Europe by 2023.
England is lagging behind Wales and Scotland and many other EU member states in the effective recovery of food waste. Improved collection would go a long way to mitigating the environmental problems caused by food waste, alongside creating jobs and generating renewable energy.
NNFCC is proud to have joined as a member of this coalition, which this week wrote to UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove, requesting that universal food waste collection be included in the upcoming Resource and Waste Strategy.
Those interested in also joining the Food Waste Coalition should contact the BBIA.
*House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Food waste in England