Spreading the word on waste

The Waste Management Information Stand will be visiting Tesco, Banbridge on Monday 26 November from 10am to 5pm and the Mace store in Rathfriland on Wednesday 28 November, 10am to 5pm.

These events aim provide the public with information about council waste management facilities and offer tips on how best to reduce the amount of waste produced by each household.

These events will also be promoting the Love Food Hate Waste campaign which encourages people to use all of the food they buy in the most efficient manner possible.

Statistics from Love Food Hate Waste suggest that in the UK we throw away a staggering 7.2 million tonnes of food and drink from our homes each year. On average this adds up to £50 of good food being wasted from each household every month.

Council staff on the information stand will be on hand to offer advice on the best ways to reduce food waste, preserve the food you buy and save you money on shopping bills. Further information and a host of tasty recipe ideas for the Love Food Hate Waste campaign can be found at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

The Council are also lending their support to Need a Bag?, a campaign asking people to think about the need for using single use plastic bags for their purchases.

With over 230 million plastic bags sent to landfill in Northern Ireland each year, this represents a huge threat to the environment. By simply employing a reusable bag a single person can save more than 20,000 single use carrier bags over the course of their lifetime.

We can all play our part in reducing the amount of plastic bags that are sent to landfill simply by switching to reusable bags. A handy hint is to a keep a supply of reusable bags in the car and by in your desk at work.

Also see if you can put a supply in the workplace kitchen or staff room. Remember to always ask yourself, “Do I really need a bag?” To help people on the path to reducing plastic bag usage, the council will be giving out 1000 free reusable bags at their information events.

For more information about waste reduction and the Love Food Hate Waste or Need a Bag campaigns, contact Gemma Richardson, Banbridge District Council on T: 406 60604.