The council is running a campaign to cut food waste, which I fully support as it saves residents money and cuts the council bill disposing of waste – a no brainer in my view.

Council Press release:

Residents across County Durham are being provided with tips that could save families up to £50 per month this summer by reducing their food waste.

The love food hate waste campaign advises what measures can be made to preserve food and save cash both at home and when travelling on short breaks and holidays.

Durham County Council Strategic Waste Team are supporting the national campaign and encouraging County Durham residents to make a difference and reduce their food waste.

Vicky Bell, waste strategy and policy officer from Durham County Council said:

“Summer food tips from the love food hate waste website will help all of us to turn leftover food we already have into some truly fabulous seasonal dishes. If we all stop wasting food that could have been eaten, the CO2 impact would be the equivalent of taking one in four cars off the road whilst saving us money at the same time.”

In total, 8.3 million tonnes of food waste is thrown away every year and costing the UK   £12 billion.

Tips to save cash through reducing food waste include:

If you have cooked too much for a meal such as fish pie, chilli or lasagne, simply pop it in an airtight container and store in the freezer as a homemade ‘ready meal’ or take with you for an easy first night supper.

If you take some lettuce or salad leaves with you and they’re looking tired and wilted after the journey, put them in a bowl of water with a couple of ice-cubes and they will become nice and crisp again.

Filling sandwiches with tasty and unexpected combinations of leftovers, such as chicken, bacon and mayonnaise, lamb and mint sauce or cheese and coleslaw.

Making leftover potatoes into a tasty potato salad with sliced red or spring onions and mayonnaise – a tasty salad that also travels well.

Make quiches to help use up eggs and spare cream. Add flaked, cooked fish or fry that last rasher of bacon and some onion for classic quiche lorraine; a perfect, simple dish to take away in your cool box for the first meal of a short break or holiday, whether it be for lunch or supper.

Make lollies from leftover smoothies, apple juice or orange juice. You can buy plastic lolly making moulds to use in the freezer.

For more tips, recipes and inspiration for a cost-effective summer home or away, visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com