During Food Waste Action Week, Sandwell Council is passing on top tips to residents to help them reduce the amount of food that ends up being thrown away in the bin which can save money.

It’s said that a third of the food people buy ends up being thrown away in the bin unnecessarily. Not only would it be better for the environment if it was eaten, it would save households money.

The average family could save £60 a month by not throwing away food that could have been eaten.

The Food Is For Bellies Not Bins campaign will see the council share top tips on how to Plan Wisely, Shop Smart, Store Right and Eat Everything to help equip residents with the knowledge on how to make the most of the food they buy.

Weekly food waste collections are free in Sandwell and can help residents see more clearly what foods end up being thrown away.

During the campaign residents will also be able to take a food waste saving quiz to test their knowledge and instil new approaches to food and food waste.Councillor Zahoor Ahmed, cabinet member for environment, said:

“We know everyone is keeping more of an eye on their money right now, especially as food costs increase. We want to help residents make their food budgets stretch further so they can spend money on the things that matter most to them.

"By following Sandwell Council’s Food Is For Bellies Not Bins advice, residents will find lots of simple tips to reduce food waste at home that they may not have thought about before. The savings can soon add up by following steps such as storing foods in the right place, creating extra meals from leftovers and freezing what won’t be eaten.

“A good starting point is to use the food waste bin, rather than general rubbish bin, for your food waste. That way you can see more clearly what foods aren’t getting used in time or what you cook too much of regularly. You may think much food isn’t wasted, but you may be surprised by what you notice once you see the bin filling up and realise where to make changes.

“The brown food bin will also be the place for things that simply can’t be eaten too, such as eggshells, teabags, chicken bones, onion skins. “And for any households not currently using the food waste collection service, it’s never too late to register for free collections.”