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News Release from: IChemE (Institution of Chemical Engineers) | Subject: Food waste
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 May 2008
Chemical engineers offer guidance on
food waste
IChemE has published its guide to reducing household waste, after published figures revealed that families typically throw away around GBP610 worth of food every year*
Andrew Furlong, IChemE Director of Policy says that their new ten-step guide is designed to help families better tackle all aspects of waste management, not just food: "People must rethink the way they approach waste if we're to avoid being lost to landfill The UK sends more rubbish to landfill than any other European nation and at current levels, we are only about eight years away from space running out," Furlong warned: "Beyond the obvious recycling bins and bottle banks, there is very little focus on practical steps that householders can take to cut the amount of waste they actually produce
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 2 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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That's why we've published this guide as a free download on our website.
It should be attached to every fridge in the UK!.
Chemical Engineers are developing new processes that apply the 'reduce, reuse and recycle' philosophy in industry but we must also ensure the same mantra is being used in our homes," added Furlong.
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The IChemE top ten tips to reduce, reuse, recycle are as follows:.
1) Plan ahead: Buy what you know you'll use during the weekly shop instead of buying on impulse - you'll end up throwing less away.
2) Heat and shrink: Plastic bottles or containers can be shrunk using leftover boiling water from your kettle.
3) Compost it: The compost bin acts as a bio-reactor.
The process that takes place inside turns organic waste such as spud peelings, teabags, eggshells and even dust from your hoover into compost for your plants.
4) Recharge your batteries: Discarded batteries contain cadmium, mercury and other toxic metals.
Rechargeable batteries are much greener - and cheaper in the long term.
5) Go local: Try to shop as locally as possible and look for products with minimal packaging.
6) Scale up: Buying non-perishable goods in bulk will save on packaging and money in the long term.
7) Carry on recycling: Reuse your supermarket carrier bags.
8) Make the polluter pay: Remove unnecessary packaging and leave it at the checkout - suppliers will soon get the message.
9) Get a pet: Even domestic animals are nature's own waste disposal units.
Just make sure that your leftovers are suitable for animal consumption.
10) Buy quality, not quantity: Quality products are more likely to last longer therefore you'll throw them out less often.
PLUS: don't dump it, freecycle it at www.freecycle.co.uk.
To download the factsheet please visit the IChemE website.
* These figures were published by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap), and revealed that families typically throw away around GBP610 worth of food every year.
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