Love Food Hate Waste campaign launches at Abergavenny Food Festival

Farmers and market traders at this year's Abergavenny Food Festival got behind a campaign that makes people aware of just how much food we send to landfill.

Monmouthshire County Council teamed up with Waste Awareness Wales to launch the ‘Love Food Hate Waste' at Abergavenny Castle to give visitors information about the £500 million of waste food that Welsh households send to landfill every year.

Recycling Officer, Rebecca Blount said:

"We are very grateful to the farmers and market traders for supporting and promoting this very important message not just at the festival but throughout the year.

"Lots of children took part in activities at the castle; and in the Market Hall, the farmers' market staff sported their new aprons displaying the ‘Love Food Hate Waste' logo.  Throughout the year both indoor café's will proudly wear their new aprons and use their new Love Food Hate Waste mugs to promote the campaign.

"Disturbingly, a third of the waste we buy ends up being thrown away and whilst some of this is tea bags and fish bones which can be composted at home, most is perfectly good food that could have been eaten - if only we had used it in time or not made too much.

"On average each household in Wales wastes a staggering £420 worth of food every year.

"Not only are the financial implications huge but if this waste ends up in landfill it will also contribute to climate change because it emits methane, which is a very powerful greenhouse gas."

For help and advice on reducing your food waste contact the Recycling Officer on 01633 644119 or visit www.wasteawarenesswales.org.uk