The Waste and Resources Action Plan (WRAP) has launched a £500,000 fund for charities, to support of the redistribution of quality surplus food to people in need throughout England.
According to WRAP, latest evidence shows that 47,000 tonnes of surplus food were re-distributed in 2015. The organisation estimates that this could increase fourfold by 2025.
Work carried out by food waste charities such as FareShare is likely to get a boost from the fund
The Food Waste Reduction Fund, which will be administered by resource charity WRAP, will support local projects to help increase redistribution in communities.
The £500,000 fund will be open to organisations who redistribute food, and to charities which receive and share food with people in need. Further details about to apply will be available WRAP’s website in 2018, when the fund opens for applications.
Barriers
WRAP said the money will help these organisations to overcome common barriers such as:
- Training and education – from frontline staff to IT.
- Infrastructure support – for necessary equipment such as new vehicles to transport more types of food.
- Forming collaborative partnerships – help joining up with appropriate partners.
- Communication, logistics and technology – to facilitate effective redistribution.
Commenting on the campaign, environment minister, Thérèse Coffey, said: “Wherever food surplus cannot be prevented, it should be used to feed people rather than go to waste.
“I welcome this new fund to support the valuable work of food redistribution charities and the contribution they make.
“I welcome this new fund to support the valuable work of food redistribution charities and the contribution they make.”
Thérèse Coffey
DEFRA
“We all need to work together to reduce UK food waste and I would like to see more action, including additional financial support, from businesses across the food sector to prevent food waste occurring.”
Peter Maddox, director WRAP, added: “We are pleased to announce this new fund to ensure that surplus food gets to more people in need. This will complement the redistribution work we’re already doing with the food and drink industry through the Courtauld Commitment 2025. We look forward to receiving expressions of interest in 2018.”
Last month, WRAP unveiled changes to the way food packaging will be labelled (see letsrecycle.com story). WRAP said the aim of the changes was to “give shoppers simpler, more consistent storage and date label advice”.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
