(Photo: Food wastage littered around a bin. Credit: Pixaby)

Across the world, food wastage is becoming an increasingly pressing concern for the UK, especially with the extreme weather conditions that sparked in recent weeks, reports James Middleton.

In the UK particularly, figures suggest we discard around £13 billion worth of edible food every single year, a problem that becomes particularly stark when vulnerable people are faced with extreme weather such as the arctic storms that have rocked the UK. Many will go to the supermarket to find their shelves empty of bread and milk – but how much of it will really be used?

Studies of food wastage in the UK point the blame firmly at students, with the average student spending around £130 per week on food and wasting a significant amount of their excess purchases. But non-profit organisations such as FareShare and The Felix Project are stepping up to help students learn to manage their food more effectively, generating less waste and supporting the local environment.

Suggestions for people who feel that they may be wasting too high a proportion of their food include buying more frozen products (as they keep for longer), planning their shopping trips more rigorously in advance to prevent impulse buying, and checking the date on packages before purchase so you can be sure that you will eat the food before it becomes inedible.

Anyone interested in learning more can visit http://lovefoodhatewaste.com/ to learn more about cutting down on the waste they generate and supporting their local environment.