In Charlton Kings, we waste the equivalent of 382 wheelie bins full of uneaten food every month. That produces about the same amount of C02e (all greenhouse gases) as 168 people flying from London to New York and back!*

There are lots of things we can all do to reduce the amount of food we waste, from simple things like meal planning, batch cooking and focusing on food storage, to growing our own food or home composting.

We ran a campaign in early 2022, discussing all things food waste. This page contains some of the resources from that campaign, including a 'Food Waste Challenge' pack, designed to help us identify where we are wasting food, and how we can make positive changes.

Join us for the CK Food Waste Challenge, an easy to navigate four-week journey from food wastage to food preservation. How much could you save from the bin?

We would love it if you could let us know how you are getting on with the challenge by emailing us at ckfutures@charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk or posting on social media using the hashtag #CKFoodWasteChallenge

Our 'A - Z of Food Waste' poster gives lots of facts, tips and ideas related to tackling food waste.

Feel free to download and print it to display in a window or in the kitchen!

Composting is a great way of using food waste, and saving money on shop-bought compost at the same time!

We met up with Master Composter and Charlton Kings Resident Mike Bush at the Community Allotment to get some top composting tips.

At a Food Waste Workshop hosted by Josie Houghton, some CK residents shared their top tips for tackling food waste:

Try something new - don't be afraid to experiment with new food and ways of cooking.

Get creative - add herbs, spices

Think whole - e.g. all the cauliflower can be eaten - the leaves and stalk can be the best bits for nutrition

Do your homework - check storage to get the longest life from your fresh fruit and veg.

Think compost - what can you successfully compost and how.

Don't overbuy – consider what's in your fridge, freezer or cupboards before meal planning.

Have fun and create something new. Those new ideas can lead to some great food!

And here are some more tips from Charlton Kings resident Janine Watts, who runs a vegetarian meal business, and her mum!

Food Waste in the Restaurant Industry with Jonas LodgeJonas Lodge, owner and head chef of the GL50 restaurant in Cheltenham, shares his experiences in reducing food waste in a successful fine dining restaurant.

Listen now

Josie Houghton shares her personal story to becoming a cook and her key points to reducing food waste.

Listen now

Find out more about food waste, its impact on the environment and what we can do reduce it with these useful websites and guides.

Love Food Hate Waste

CK Futures Carbon Footprint Guide