This week, East Coast FM looked at food waste
Did you know…
- Ireland produces around 800,000 tonnes of food waste yearly
- Food waste contributes 8% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions yearly
- The EPA incorporated combatting food waste into their Circular Economy Programme to reduce it in households, restaurants, and other industries
How does food waste impact me and the environment?
- Not keeping track of food waste can cost around €700 a year per Irish household
- Land that wasted food is grown on displaces wildlife by removing their habitat
- Discarding food wastes a significant amount of resources it takes to grow it, including water and energy
What are some food scraps that have many uses to reduce waste?
- Peel the outer green layer of a watermelon to blend and freeze into cubes for smoothies. Pickle or make kimchi out of the white rind of a watermelon
- Lemon peels can be soaked in vinegar to make a natural household cleaning spray
- Bones can be simmered along with water to make bone broth for soups, drinks, and other recipes
- Stale bread can be baked with herbs and spices to create croutons
Here’s a few websites if you want to know more
- https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring–assessment/circular-economy/food-waste/ – Environmental Protection Agency food waste education
- https://stopfoodwaste.ie/ – EPA’s Stop Food Waste initiative
- https://zerowastechef.com/2018/05/02/15-creative-uses-food-scraps/ – Repurposing food scraps
