Avoid post-Christmas food waste surge, Peterborough council asks

Recyling officer Amy Nebel urged people to plan their meals and freeze any leftovers

A city's food waste goes up by 6% during the Christmas holiday period, according to a council.

Peterborough City Council said it expected to collect an extra 50 tonnes of waste over the festive period.

Senior waste and recycling officer Amy Nebel said: "It's quite staggering when you see the amount the vehicles bring in and out at the kerbside."

Figures from climate action NGO WRAP reveals food waste costs the average four-person UK household £1,000 a year.

Peterborough collects between 5 and 5.5 tonnes of food waste every year, according to the council's figures.

If every Peterborough resident recycled food waste properly the council would save up to £750,000 a year, Ms Nebel said

Residents are meant to split their rubbish between a black bin for general waste, a grey bin or caddy for food waste, a green bin for recycling and a brown bin for garden waste.

"They are definitely not using their food caddies as much as they could," said Ms Nebel.

"If all that food waste was recycled properly the council would be saving in the region of £500,000 to £750,000 every year."

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City council figures also reveal the amount of food waste it collects has gone down between 4 and 6% this year, which "may be down to the cost of living crisis".

Her main tip for reducing food waste is to plan meals ahead.

She added: "Also don't overcook and if it doesn't go to plan - I'm a working mum of two and it doesn't always go to plan - then freeze your leftovers."