Trust shortlisted for food waste initiative award

The trust cut its food waste by 18% in just five months

A project from a Kent NHS trust which aims to reduce food waste in hospitals has been shortlisted for a national award.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has been shortlisted in the food waste initiative of the year category at Letsrecycle.com's Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management.

The scheme, which introduced food waste separation across the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals, helped the trust cut its food waste by 18% and increase its recycling by 17% in just five months.

Debbie Morris, the trust's director of estates and facilities management, said: "Embedding sustainable practice in everything we do has never been more important for the NHS."

The scheme also helped identify a range of measures to reduce food waste, including training for food service assistants.

The trust said it had also reduced its food waste and associated costs by analysing consumption and stock practices.

Food waste is estimated to account for about 6% of the NHS' carbon footprint, the trust says.

The winner of the award will be announced in May.