The "Haddenham FoodSavers" project is an
opportunity for Haddenham Parish Council to engage with residents of Haddenham
and local businesses with the aim of reducing food waste and carbon emissions,
aligning with the UK's net-zero targets.
The impact of food waste on the environment is significant and concerning. In
the UK, the issue is stark, with millions of tons of food discarded in
landfills each year. These landfills become sources of methane, a greenhouse
gas far more potent than carbon dioxide, contributing to the escalating problem
of climate change. Specifically, the residents of Haddenham produced 266,000 kg
of food waste from April 22 – March 23. Adding to this, an analysis of general
waste collections showed that 34% of general waste consisted of food waste, 69%
of which is thought to be avoidable.
Globally, food waste accounts for approximately 8 to 10 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. In the UK, 4.5 million tonnes of edible food are thrown away every year. Addressing this inefficiency in the food supply chain is not just an environmental imperative but also an opportunity to make a positive change in society.
So, what can we do?