A food waste company stopped off in Manchester city centre today to treat passers-by to free smoothies – made from ingredients usually intended for the bin.
A whopping 4.2million tonnes of avoidable household food and drink is thrown away each year, costing the average family £700 annually, shows research from the Waste and Resources Action Programme.
To help Mancunians change their kitchen habits, as well as hand out tips and tricks, Love Food Hate Waste stopped by with their ‘Liquid Greens Machine’ to dish out their free smoothies.
Emma Marsh, head of Love Food Hate Waste said: “We want people to look at the huge volume of food that’s ending up in the bin.
WASTE NATION: A shocking 4.2million tonnes of food is wasted each year
“The Liquid Greens Machine is just one example of a creative way for people to experiment with the good food and drink they buy and try making something delicious and different.”
The machine itself, a green van handing out fresh smoothies for free, has travelled across the UK raising awareness about food waste.
Manchester comes fourth in its ‘Love Food Hate Waste 10 Cities’ tour, with Sheffield next in line.
Sally Hollyhead, PR Manager for Love Food Hate Waste told MM: “The Manchester people have been really lovely, friendly and chatty.
“Everyone so far has wanted to help the environment by making a change. The free smoothies we are giving out are made from ingredients that often go to waste.
“We hope this will spark some creativity when coming up with ideas to use up fruit and veg.”
MEAN MACHINE: The smoothies went down a treat for children and adults alike
The Liquid Greens Machine also brought along a Pledge Tree, inviting people to make pledges about one thing they will change so as to reduce waste.
Sally explained: “Our best pledge so far involves bananas. A suggestion was cutting them up, dipping them in chocolate and freezing them.
“I am totally going to try that.”
Elaine and Beth Casinelli, 50 and 24 from Shropshire and Salford were enjoying the blueberry and beetroot smoothies given out by the Liquid Greens Machine.
Civil servant Elaine said “I like to think I don’t waste food, but the event has given me a few new ideas. I usually feed my food waste to my pets.”
Solicitor Beth added: “We picked up a really good recipe from the event for a savoury pudding which uses up old bread.”
PLEDGE TREE: There are many ways to use usually wasted foods
With the cost of food waste so high for families, Anthony and Elizabeth Wilson, 34 and 32, and son Oscar, 2, from Surrey, do everything they can to be responsible.
Mum Elizabeth said: “I am completely surprised about how much food is wasted in the average family.”
Anthony, a research scientist, said: “We think about food waste a lot. We are conscientious and compost everything we can on our allotment.”
Sally explained: “Most people we have spoken to have been very conscientious, no one wants to waste money or food, it’s about sharing knowledge and ideas.”
Revealing one of the top three wasted products in the UK as potatoes, she told MM: “One of my top tips is baking potato peelings in the oven with olive oil and salt.
“They’re delicious and slightly addictive.”
LOVE FOOD: Councillor Jeff Smith has pledged his support
The event came as part of gardening festival ‘Dig the City’, in partnership with The Co-operative Food, Marks and Spencer, Recycle for Greater Manchester and Manchester City Council.
Emma Marsh said: “I’m delighted that The Co-operative Food and Marks and Spencer have committed to working with us in Manchester, to make avoiding food waste a reality.”
Councillor Jeff Smith, Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration from Manchester City Council, supported the event, alongside John Leech, Lib Dem MP for Manchester, Withington.
Emma summed up Love Food Hate Waste’s campaign with: “We want to make sure food gets tasted, not wasted.”
For more information on reducing food waste, as well as recipes and tips, click here.
