4 easy things to do with your food scraps

If food waste was a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. Shocking.

It is argued that plastic packaging protects our food in transit and extends its freshness. But we’re also wasting more fresh food than ever before. We’re sold the idea that we need plastic packaging to prevent our food from going off. But how many times have you thrown out a half-used packet of fresh herbs, an over-sized bag of spinach or a load of sprouting potatoes? 

As Brits, Europeans, Westerners, we are fortunate enough to have food in absolute abundance. We can afford to buy too much. In fact, we often don’t have a choice but to buy too much. Between 2004 and 2015, food waste in European households almost doubled while plastic packaging increased by 25%. This is no coincidence. 

Keeping food out of the bin is a great way to reduce waste, eat well and return our fruit and veg to the earth. Here are a few things you can do for starters:

Eat them!

Keep your broccoli stalks, cauliflower leaves, carrot stems and potato skins to chop, blend, roast or fry into delicious snacks or sides. There are plenty of zero waste cooks who can show you some amazing and simple recipes using all parts of the vegetable. We recommend Max La Manna and Anne-Marie Bonneau (Zero Waste Chef).

Make stock

Chuck your onion skins, carrot heads, celery stalks and tomato peel into a pot of boiling water along with some peppercorns and salt, leave to simmer for a couple of hours and you have yourself a hearty stock that will fill your kitchen with the best aromas. If you eat meat, you can make a stock with the carcass or bones using the same process.

Use as compost

Seems obvious, but if you have space to create compost from your food waste, your house plants will thank you. If space is at a premium, just sprinkle coffee grounds straight on to the soil of your plants. It works as a sow-release fertiliser and helps drainage. Alternatively, find a local community project or allotment that will take your scraps.

Make an all-purpose cleaning spray

Keep your discarded citrus fruits aside and mix in with white vinegar. Leave them for week or 2 to infuse then pour into an old spray bottle with equal parts water. And there you have a sweet-smelling and effective household cleaner with no chemical nasties.