Food waste

Sustainable food - it’s not just about waste

Food is our fuel, there are significant challenges ahead in securing food supplies for the world’s growing population, the food we eat has a significant impact on our health, and for those of us in the waste industry food waste represents 1/3 of municipal waste, and when disposed of in landfill, produces methane and carbon dioxide, both greenhouse gases.

More significantly, we are only now beginning to realise the full environmental burden of food waste in terms of the lost resources used across the whole supply chain: from farm to fork.

Work we have done, or are doing in this area covers the full range of services and includes:

Evaluation of WRAP’s food waste trials and support to local authorities in the design and roll out of food waste collections
Recent focus has included the recognition of the food waste reduction impact of introducing food waste collections and linking this with reviews of waste prevention strategies
National research regarding waste composition and waste arisings means that we have an excellent understanding of waste data and trends and can advise on the impact on food waste of different interventions, collections, promotional activities etc. This area is also of interest to the organics processing industry particularly with regard to predicting the composition of feedstock
Contributing to national research into food waste in supply chains, and an international study into the waste drivers’ in relation to food security issues to 2050
Love Food Hate Waste – promotion and public engagement including GMWDA, NLWDA – two of the largest waste disposal authorities in the UK
Food waste in schools – including composting on site and food waste collections in schools – pilots and roll out of collections in Bristol (including in schools workshops, teaching materials as well as liaison with caretakers, kitchen staff and contractors). We are currently undertaking research work for WRAP regarding food waste in schools
Community engagement on food waste issues – working with our 26 community action groups in Oxfordshire – an approach which develops skills and expertise in the community within a supporting network of groups
Commercial food waste collections pilots

We have identified food issues as being an important area for development in the future and are able to offer a range of products and services for those organisations wishing to tackle food waste issues. We are also interested in exploring with others how these issues relate to other policy agendas including healthy eating, food supply and promotion of allotments and growing your own food.

For more information on any of our services, call us now on 0117 930 4355.

Project Synopses

Food waste collections from Bristol schools

Between 2007 and 2009 Resource Futures worked with Bristol City Council and their contractor to pilot the collection of food waste and cardboard from schools for in-vessel composting, and to roll collections out to most schools in the city.

In-vessel composting at Stowford Primary School

Resource Futures' Composting in Schools Project supports a school to divert 2½ tonnes of food waste from landfill in one year.

South West region comes together to tackle food waste

In autumn 2009, the South West Waste and Recycling Forum (SWWRF) and Resource Futures worked with all the 35 local authorities (LAs) across the South West to deliver a collaborative campaign on food waste reduction, which was conceived by the forum the previous year.

Quick Links

Community RePaint
Community RePaint is managed by Resource Futures. It is a network of projects that collect unwanted surplus paint, diverting it from the waste stream and redistributing it to individuals, families and communities in social need and providing environmental, social and economic benefits for stakeholders.

Oxfordshire CAGS
Community Action Groups, CAGs, is a network of 30 local voluntary groups in Oxfordshire. The CAG support team is managed by Resource Futures, and provides hands-on help and advice for groups who organise events and initiatives to raise awareness and take action on climate change issues, in order to live more sustainable and less resource dependent lives in their local community.

National Household Hazardous Waste Forum
The National Household Hazardous Waste Forum (NHHWF) is managed by Resource Futures. It is a stakeholder-led initiative to seek practical solutions to the many problems associated with the management of household hazardous waste including collection, recycling and safe disposal.

WRAP - Low participation toolkit

Defra - understanding waste growth at the local authority level

News and Events

Community RePaint: A Helping Hand for Hearts and Minds in 2011

In 2011, householders, traders and paint manufacturers donated 343,957 litres of paint to Community RePaint schemes, which then distributed 217,112 litres to community groups and individuals saving 565 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of taking 192 cars off our roads - and providing 766 volunteer and training opportunities. The network now has over 65 schemes across the UK and with four new schemes about to start at the beginning of 2012.

Resource Futures seeks new Non-Executive Chair

Following restructuring during 2011 Resource Futures is now looking to strengthen its Board with a new Non-Executive Chair. The company is forecasting a three-fold increase in its profit from 2% in the year ended March 2010 to 6% for the year ending March 2012. The new position will join Chief Executive Officer Jane Stephenson MBE and Operations Director Sam Reeve, bringing independent scrutiny and advice to this successful business at Board level.

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