From Liz Waugh, Exeter 382173, May 12, 2008

A new research report published by WRAP (Waste Resources Action Programme) was given full backing by Devon County Council's 'Don't let Devon go to waste' campaign today.

"The Food We Waste" revealed that the average household in Devon throws out £420 of food a year. The cost of wasted food to UK households could be as much as £10 billion a year, £2 billion higher than previously estimated.

The research gives detailed new insights into the nature and amount of food waste thrown away in the UK and is believed to be the first study of its kind.

Researchers found that around £6 billion of food a year is bought and simply left unused or untouched. For example, each day 1.3 million unopened yoghurt pots, 5,500 whole chickens and 440,000 ready meals are thrown away in the UK. The study revealed that £1 billion worth of wasted food is still "in date".

The environmental impact of food waste is significant. Because of the energy and resources used to transport food from producer and supplier to the home, and subsequently to landfill, there is a major carbon impact. Successfully tackling the food waste issue could mean the energy equivalent of taking 1 in 5 cars off UK roads.

Chief Executive of WRAP, Liz Goodwin said: "Food waste has a significant environmental impact. This research confirms that it is an issue for us all, whether as consumers, retailers, local or central Government."

She added: "What shocked me the most was the cost of our food waste at a time of rising food bills, and generally a tighter pull on our purse strings."

Councillor Margaret Rogers, Executive Member for the Environment for Devon County Council said: "The figures on food waste are truly appalling and I am convinced that making it the focus of the Don't let Devon go to waste campaign this summer will help us all become more aware of how much food we throw out especially when we realise that some of what we throw away travels many food miles to reach our shops. 

"Moreover some food commodities, like rice, which we often use as part of exotic meals, are basic food necessities for large numbers of people in the Third World who live close to or below a starvation diet level. I applaud the Love Food Hate Waste campaign for giving people positive ideas and solutions to a major environmental problem that impacts on us all."

Julia Falcon of WRAP's campaign, Love Food Hate Waste, said: "This report shows we could all be saving money and time by making better use of our food. We've found there's a real demand for quick and easy ideas and lovefoodhatewaste.com can help with tips which turn into good habits in the kitchen."

The Don't let Devon go to waste campaign is focussing on the need to reduce food waste during May to September this year. The "Love Food Hate Waste" roadshow will be at numerous locations throughout the county where free recipe cards and giveaways will be available with ideas to help cut down food waste:

Grand Western Canal Event	Mid Devon Show Ground, Hartnoll Farm	Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May
Exmouth Kite Festival	Imperial Recreation Ground, Exmouth	Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June
Wood Fair	Roadford Lake	Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July
Mid Devon Show	Hartnoll Farm, Post Hill, Tiverton	Saturday 26 July
Yealmpton Show	Kitley	Wednesday 30 July
North Devon Show	Torrington	Wednesday 6 August
Honiton Show	Nr Weston Village	Thursday 7 August
Okehampton Show	Stoney Park Showground	Thursday 14 August
Holsworthy Show	Rydon area A3072	Thursday 28 August
Kingsbridge Show	Borough Farm, Kinsbridge	Saturday 6 September
Widecombe Fair	Fairfield, widdecombe in the moor	Tuesday 9 September

To find out more about reducing your waste, recycling and composting in Devon visit www.recycledevon.org or call 0845 4502477

Notes to Editors:

Don't let Devon go to waste campaign

Don't let Devon go to waste' is a county wide multi faceted communications campaign which represents a partnership of 11 authorities across Devon including Devon County Council, 8 District Authorities and 2 Unitary Authorities. The campaign commenced in October 2002 with funding and full support from the Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) when an all embracing study of waste arising and public attitudes in conjunction with an advertising and public relations campaign, resulted in a step change in attitudes to waste and levels of recycling in Devon.

Love Food Hate Waste Campaign - new tips to help with planning:

• Have a quick check in the fridge each day and plan meals around what needs using up first.
• Those leftovers from last night's dinner can make a great lunchbox to take to work save money.
• Date labels don't have to be difficult - check for "Use by" dates and see if the product can be frozen if it can't be eaten it in time.
• Before you hit the supermarket try to make a list.
• We waste a lot of fresh fruit, vegetables and salad - keep them in the fridge and they can last up to two weeks longer.
• Many convenience foods can be frozen - when choosing them in the store check the label first.
• And try buying a mix of frozen and fresh foods to give you more choice and time to eat them.
• Meals made from leftovers can be delicious and save you both time and money
• Go to lovefoodhatewaste.com to get more help with planning, storing, cooking and enjoying the food you buy. Don't forget to give us your tips too!

Pru Leith says:

"It gives me huge satisfaction to "make something out of nothing""

The Food We Waste Report: Can be found at www.wrap.org.uk/thefoodwewaste from 9am Thursday 8th May.

This study which is believed to be the first of its kind in the world, consisted of a detailed survey of households and a physical analysis of their waste.

A representative sample of 2,715 households in England and Wales was interviewed, and several weeks later, 2,138 of them had their waste collected for analysis - with their signed consent.

The research was designed so that WRAP could quantify the amounts and types of food waste being produced, but also made links between this and the attitudes displayed by, and disposal options available to the household.

Key Facts from the Love Food Hate Waste campaign:

In the UK we are throwing away one third of the food we buy. That's like one in three bagfuls of food shopping going straight in the bin.

We throw away 6.7 million tonnes of food each year in the UK, when most of this food could have been eaten. (Its not just peelings and bones -its good food). That's equivalent to filling Wembley Stadium with food waste 8 times over!

In terms of environmental impact - producing, storing and getting the food to our homes uses a lot of energy. The carbon impact of food waste is enormous. Tackling it would provide a carbon benefit equivalent to taking 1 in 5 cars off of UK roads.

Most of the wasted food reaches landfill sites where it emits methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

High economic cost - at least £10bn worth of food that could have been eaten is thrown out every year.

We throw food out for two main reasons: food gets forgotten and is left unused; we serve up too much and don't use leftovers.

For more information on the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, visit: www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

Generic Notes:

WRAP helps individuals, businesses and local authorities to reduce waste and recycle more, making better use of resources and helping to tackle climate change.

Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Working in seven key areas (Construction, Retail, Manufacturing, Organics, Business Growth, Behavioural Change, and Local Authority Support), WRAP's work focuses on market development and support to drive forward recycling and materials resource efficiency within these sectors, as well as wider communications and awareness activities including the multi-media national Recycle Now campaign for England.

More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk