(l-r)Colin Wright, Co-operative member, Helen Lawrie, a home composting advisor for WRAP, community chef Mark Earnden and Sharon Watson of the North Cumbria Area Committee celebrate the event in Carlisle

(l-r)Colin Wright, Co-operative member, Helen Lawrie, a home composting advisor for WRAP, community chef Mark Earnden and Sharon Watson of the North Cumbria Area Committee celebrate the event in Carlisle

The Co-operative Group has launched a UK-wide series of Watch your Waste events to help tackle the growing problem of household food waste.

The Watch your Waste events are being hosted by The Co-operative’s Membership teams and will be held at more than 40 venues across the UK. They kicked off in Carlisle.

Each event will feature a community chef, who will be cooking up a selection of recipes using food items that are commonly thrown away, as well as giving tips on food planning and management to customer members.

The demonstrations will include dishes such as roast chicken and vegetable pie, broccoli and cheddar cheese soup, vegetable and herb frittata and banana, yoghurt, orange and honey smoothie.

Peter Marks, group chief executive, said: “When The Co-operative carried out its Food Ethical Policy consultation, over 100,000 members and customers said action to safeguard the environment was one of their top priorities. The Watch your Waste events are an excellent way to help people cut their waste and help the environment, by giving them tips and ideas on what to do with leftover food.

“Household food waste is a growing problem and, as the UK’s fifth-biggest retailer, we are determined to do all we can to help our customers tackle this issue, as well as helping them to spend wisely and save money in these difficult times.”

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