Cornwall Council is urging residents to shop smarter as research reveals the average family of four spends around £1,000 a year on food that gets chucked.
The research has been released during Food Waste Action Week (March 17- March 23). Delivered by WRAP’s Love Food Hate Waste, the annual campaign encourages people to buy loose produce to reduce food waste.
WRAP’s analysis found 46% of potatoes, 23% of carrots and 18% of apples end up being thrown out.
Opting for loose fresh fruit and veg means you are more likely to buy the amount you need. It also avoids unnecessary packaging.
Following the introduction of weekly food waste collections, households across Cornwall have recycled more than 11,500 tonnes of food waste.
Esther O’Bearagh, Waste and Recycling Community Engagement Team Leader at Cornwall Council, said: “It’s fantastic that people are now recycling their food waste but reducing the amount of food you throw away in the first place could save you a lot of money. It’s also much better for the environment.
“Planning meals in advance and writing a list before you go shopping can help to reduce waste, and using a food portion calculator ensures you don’t end up with mountains of leftovers.”
Jackie Bailey, Senior Campaign Manager Love Food Hate Waste, said: “We know buying loose fruit and veg has the potential to significantly cut the amount of food ending up in the bin – now is the time for retailers and shoppers to make that a reality.
“Increasing loose fruit and veg offerings in store will not only reduce hard to recycle plastics, it will also enable shoppers to buy closer to their needs, slashing waste and stopping tens of thousands of tonnes of CO2 emissions.”
Press release issued on March 17, 2025