Food waste stats and information

Food waste at home

  • Food waste accounts for approximately a third of a household’s waste
  • UK households waste 6.5m tonnes of food every year, 4.5m of which is edible
  • Average family can save £60 per month by reducing food waste
  • 36m tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions could be prevented if food wasn’t wasted

What happens to your food waste

  • Food waste collected across Stratford and Warwick Districts is treated at Severn Trent Green Power’s anaerobic digestion facility in Coleshill, Warwickshire
  • The facility can treat up to 50,000 tonnes of food waste each year, which is enough to generate 2.4 Megawatts of electricity
  • Food waste is processed and digested into biogas which can be used to power the electricity and gas grid
  • This process also creates bio-fertiliser which is used by UK farmers to help grow food and vegetables

Image shows the processing of food waste

Food waste process

  • Food waste is processed in an anaerobic digester
  • This produces biogas which can be used for heat and electricity
  • Biogas is processed in to biomethane, which can fuel vehicles or power the gas grid
  • Digestate is also produced from the anaerobic digester, which can be used for fertiliser or livestock bedding

How you can help

  • Recycle all your food waste using your food caddy
  • Reduce your food waste by planning your meals and only shopping for what you need
  • Make the most of leftovers and freeze what you can

Food waste infographic