Food Waste – How much!

In the UK each year we throw away 6 million tonnes of food and drink from households every year.

Of that 6 million tonnes:

4.4 million tonnes is avoidable food waste, food and drink that could have been eaten but was thrown away, often due to over-purchasing, poor storage, or cooking too much.

1.6 tonnes is unavoidable food waste, scraps and waste produced during food preparation which is inedible and would not usually be eaten e.g. bones, eggshells, pineapple skin and teabags.

In 2025 Suffolk Waste Partnership carried out a waste composition analysis which showed the make-up of Suffolk's rubbish bins.

A staggering 33.7% of an average bin was food waste! So, what was thrown away?

Avoidable food waste

Unavoidable food waste

Not used it in time: food that has been thrown away because it has gone off (mouldy, mushy or rotten) or because it has passed a date label.
Cooked, prepared or served too much: food and drink that has been cooked, prepared or served in the home and then thrown away. This portion planner can be a great help.
Personal preference: food and drink not eaten due to health reasons, feeding animals with food, or simply not wanting to eat a particular food or part of a food item.
Other: this includes food that has been contaminated, burnt or spoilt; cupboard clear out, dregs at the bottom of a cup and spillages.