Scotland to introduce food waste target
Speaking at the Scottish Resources Conference yesterday morning (7 October), Lochhead announced his intention to introduce such a target after noting that avoidable food waste across the country has reduced by almost eight per cent since 2009.
According to Scottish Government figures, Scotland currently generates around 1.4 million tonnes of food waste every year, of which 600,000 tonnes comes from households. Sixty per cent of that household food waste, it says, is avoidable – unused leftovers or food that has gone off and had to be thrown away.
During his speech Lochhead stated that household food waste in Scotland has decreased by an estimated 37,000 tonnes per year – 5.7 per cent overall – since 2009, with a reduction of 7.7 per cent overall, or 30,000 tonnes per year, in avoidable food waste.
In that time, he estimated that Scottish households have saved around £92 million a year by avoiding unnecessary purchases.
Specific details of the target have not been clarified, and it remains to be seen whether any potential target would be based on overall tonnage of food waste generated or on a per capita basis of those participating in local authority food waste collections.
Further details will be established when Lochhead announces the Scottish Government’s circular economy strategy later this year.
A public consultation on a Scottish circular economy was launched in August, and will run until 30 October, with the government seeking opinions on the use of resources, the creation of new markets and the potential of design, reuse and remanufacture.
Food waste measures in Scotland
Under the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012, from 1 January 2016 all occupiers of non-rural properties must have separate food collections. Zero Waste Scotland and the Scottish Government have both offered funding to local authorities to assist with the implementation of new collections. For example, in February, Scottish Borders Council received a £250,000 funding package to assist with the provision of food waste collection vehicles and household caddies and liners.
The regulations also specified that since January 2014, all food businesses producing over 50 kilogrammes (kg) of food waste per week have been obliged to present that waste for separate collection. This is being extended to all food businesses producing over 5kg of food waste a week from January 2016.
Target ‘will place Scotland at forefront of global food waste response’
Speaking at the Conference, Lochhead said: “I want to see more done. Globally, we throw away two billion tonnes of food every year – which is shocking when 840 million people across the world are going hungry. I want Scotland to lead by example.
“I intend to introduce a food waste target that I believe will be the first such target in Europe. It will place Scotland at the forefront of tackling global food waste, together with the United States, which recently announced a target to reduce food waste by 50 per cent by 2030.
“Working together is imperative to the success of this, and we must continue to do so. I will fully consult with all stakeholders to set the right target to support both Scotland’s food and drink, and our zero waste, ambitions.”
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Today’s news of such a substantial reduction in avoidable food waste is testament to a terrific effort by people in Scotland to cut waste – shopping smarter, planning meals better and enjoying the resulting benefit to their wallets.
“The Love Food Hate Waste campaign, delivered by Zero Waste Scotland, offers a range of shopping advice and recipes to help people cut food waste even further and make the most of leftovers. We’ll be continuing to promote these messages across Scotland.
“More attention is now being paid to preventing [food waste] worldwide, so Zero Waste Scotland is very happy to support the cabinet secretary’s call for a formal food waste target for Scotland. A target will help us all concentrate on the task of eradicating avoidable food waste as well as demonstrate leadership and commitment the rest of the world might follow.”
Learn more about the global problem of food waste.
