Recycle, reduce and reuse

In the UK £10.2 billion or seven million tonnes of food is thrown out by householders every year. £1 billion of this food is still ‘in date’ and perfectly edible.

Each household throws out an average of £480 worth of food a year. This rises to £680 for a family with children, equivalent to £50 each month or £15,000 to 24,000 over a lifetime. 

The figures soon add up, and that is a lot of money to be ‘throwing away’:

• over 5 million whole potatoes
• over 4 million whole apples
• over 1 million whole and untouched sausages
• 1 million slices of ham
• 1 million loaves of bread
• over 1 million yoghurts and yoghurt drinks
• 520,000 unused teabags
• 440,000 home-made and ready-made meals

In Luton more than 30 per cent of the rubbish in our black bins is these types of food waste. 

Often, throwing away this waste can be avoided, for example egg shells, potato peelings and tea bags can be home composted rather than thrown away. 

Tasty ideas and recipes to help reduce your food bills

We are producing a number of great recipes for you to download using leftovers to make simple, tasty meals. 

Find recipes, hints and tips on reducing food waste – Love food, hate waste

Food waste collections

Food waste collections for:

• householders began in March 2026. 
• flats began in September 2026 and will be available to all flats by the end of March 2027

Go to food waste collections.