Page 11 - Tidy Planet - Environment Act 2021 Legislation Guide

What’s next for food waste management?
With legislative drivers now meaning that all food-producing organisations need to shift their current practices to be compliant by 2023, this should be seen as an era of opportunity – environmentally, ethically, operationally, and financially.
Ultimately, the Environment Act aims to create a cleaner, more circular economy, and when looking at food waste in particular, there is a lot that organisations can do to help reduce wastage volumes and encourage more sustainable practices.
With a new law on the horizon and charity Waste and Resources Action Programme’s most recent report revealing that the UK produced approximately 9.5 million tonnes of food waste in 2018 – equating to over £19 billion and 25 million tonnes of greenhouse gas
emissions – there’s never been a more important time for organisations to act.
When looking at the Waste Hierarchy, while prevention is undoubtedly the ideal scenario – not creating waste in the first place isn’t always possible. Not only are there unavoidable food preparation offcuts, but it also relies on consumers making environmentally conscious decisions about the amount of food they order.
However, by implementing on-site technologies that help minimise third-party disposal fees, comply with legislation, and contribute to a more sustainable future, organisations will not only be playing their part in promoting the long-term, positive change our planet needs, but they will also be able to reap the bottom-line benefits too.
9.5m tonnes of food waste produced per year
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What’s next for food waste management?