Save your money - don’t waste food

OLDHAMERS are urged to Watch Your Waste in a bid to reduce the amount of food we throw away each year.

The campaign is run by The Co-operative to tackle the 6.7 million tonnes of waste thrown away by UK households every year.

Research shows that 70 per cent of this could have been eaten — £617 wasted by every home — and the waste creates the same amount of carbon dioxide as a fifth of the cars on UK roads.

The Co-operative’s community chef James Carr will be demonstrating how to use leftovers wisely at Hathershaw College on Friday.

The demonstration will include dishes such as chicken and mushroom pie, broccoli and cheese soup, vegetable and herb frittata and banana, yoghurt, orange and honey smoothie.

The event, which will also focus on food planning and management, supports WRAP’s “Love Food Hate Waste” campaign.

The government-funded campaign aims to raise awareness of the need to reduce food waste as well as providing practical tips and solutions to help consumers waste less food.

Clare Oakley, The Co-operative’s regional secretary for the North-West, said: “When The Co-operative carried out its Food Ethical Policy consultation, over 100,000 members and customers said action to safeguard the environment was one of their top priorities.

“The Watch Your Waste event is an excellent way to help our customer members cut their waste and help the environment by giving them tips on what to do with leftover food.

“James has some great advice and we would encourage people to come and hear what he has to say.”

Co-operative customer members interested in cutting waste, saving money and helping the environment can find out more about the Watch Your Waste events by logging on to: www.co-operative.coop/membership/events/changetheworld/watch-your-waste.

To book a place at the event, which starts at 7pm, call 0161-246 2226.