Photo courtesy of thisisrubbish.org.uk

Description

Formed in 2009 by volunteers, this is Rubbish (TiR) was launched the same year at Feeding the 5000, a mass public food waste feast in Trafalgar Square. The event was produced in collaboration with Action Aid; FareShare; Save the Children and expert food waste author, Tristram Stuart. On the day TiR served 1000 litres of fruit ‘waste’ smoothies, pressed by pedal power and made from fruit that would have otherwise ended up in landfill. The campaign also gained extensive media coverage and 2000 signatories in a letter of support, addressed to DEFRA.

TiR is now a Community Interest Company and has an extensive portfolio of successful events throughout England and Wales.

Asks and aims

The UK generates over 16 million tonnes of food waste every year, costing an estimated £22 billion a year. WRAP’s "Love Food Hate Waste" campaign, successfully aimed to tackle food waste in the home. TiR however, concentrates on the 60% of food waste that occurs before it reaches consumers, within the supply chain itself. To tackle this, TiR has two main policy asks:

  1. For all areas of the food sector to be obliged to report on the food waste they generate in their activities, with annual reports audited and publicised by an independent commission.
  2. For the government to introduce an obligation upon the food sector to reduce food waste.

Projects

1. IFWAP (Industry Food Waste Audit Proposal) The Industry food waste audit proposal (IFWAP) is TiR's first food waste in the industry research project. Funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, it exists to open dialogue with individuals and organizations across the food supply chain, to gather information on perceived opportunities and barriers relating to the introduction of an industry wide food waste audit. For further info: http://www.thisisrubbish.org.uk/industry-food-waste-audit-proposal-ifwap/

2. FEAST In 2011 TiR went on tour with their project “Feast”, visiting a selection of communities and food festivals across Wales. In each location TiR set up a popup food waste café to host workshops, games and a programme of creative events followed by evening food waste feasts, from locally sourced surplus. For further info: http://www.thisisrubbish.org.uk/project/feast/

Links and other sources