Win A Fridge In The Food Waste Challenge

Published on: 8 Mar, 2021
Updated on: 8 Mar, 2021

Zero Carbon Guildford, is calling for people to join the charity in cutting food waste in Guildford.

And you could win a new A+ efficiency Hisense fridge by taking part in the Food Waste Challenge.

Food waste contributes between 8 and 10% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions.

Zero Carbon Guildford (ZCG) spokesperson, Ben McCallan, said: “We would love for you to get in touch with us and join our food waste projects.

“If you have an idea to cut food waste then maybe we can help you make it reality.”

WRAP, the charity that focuses on waste and sustainability, held a Food Waste Action campaign last week saying: “A third of the food we produce worldwide is lost or wasted. In fact it contributes a staggering 8% to 10% of total man-made greenhouse gas emissions.”

ZCG ideas for cutting food waste include hosting a town centre community fridge potentially in partnership with Mid Surrey community fridges, who are saving eught tonnes of food waste every week, and campaigning to push supermarkets to commit to reducing food waste.

ZCG has included some ways to reduce food waste on its website including:

Plan your meals in advance. It costs nothing and is the most effective way to cut waste. It’ll help you save money at the shops because you’ll only buy what you need.

Donate to a community fridge. You can donate to Guildford’s community fridge at the Hive at the Park Barn Centre or to the Mid-Surrey community fridge

Eat The Lot! Use the ‘scrap’ parts of food to keep your food bin empty. For instance, potato peels baked with salt make surprisingly delicious, packaging-free, home-made crisps.

When All Else Fails – freeze. The freezer is the no-waste champion of any home. Freezing leftovers means you don’t have to eat the same thing two days in a row and cooking double portions for things like veg chilli or paneer curry means you can stick a whole meal’s worth in the freezer for evenings when you’re feeling too lazy to cook.

ZCG is planning to open a climate emergency centre in June including aiming to open a zero waste shop on the premises. The aim of the centre is to recognise that the climate crisis will affect our local area and to use the town centre shop to focus on community collaboration, to build resilience and adapt to help Guildford cope with the accelerating challenges.

Based on a WRAP press release and Zero Carbon Guildford website blogs.

Responses to Win A Fridge In The Food Waste Challenge

Norah Morden Reply

March 9, 2021 at 11:13 am

They should publicise tips on preventing food waste. For example, keeping food fresh, using food before it goes off completely, Knowing which food can be frozen, understanding that sell-by dates are not necessarily decisive.

Al; so, supermarkets could provide things in smaller amounts and sell fewer offers for getting reductions such as BOGOF [buy one, get one free].
Camilla Gosden Reply

March 9, 2021 at 6:57 pm

I would like supermarkets to provide more loose food so that I can buy the quantity I need, rather than having a small quantity left over which is not worth freezing.

But, unlike Norah Morden, I would not like to have fewer BOGOF offers – one can share with others by using outlets such as OLIO.
Georgina Grant Reply

March 10, 2021 at 3:39 pm

I too would like more items sold loose or packed in smaller quantities.

My particular gripe is little gem lettuce, which every outlet seems only to sell in packs of two. Why can’t I buy just one?

Another annoying item recently was a packet of rocket. Too late I realised it said on the back “use within one day of opening”.

I don’t know why that was important, it seemed perfectly okay for several days afterwards. Fortunately, we grow our own salad items in summer.