Powys County Council proudly supports the Mighty Mission to make Wales No.1!

14 October 2024

We're backing Wales Recycles' mighty mission to get to No.1 in the world for recycling, and we need YOUR help to get us there! Wales is already on the rise - recently climbing from third to second place, just behind Austria. Amazing, right? But we can do even better, especially when it comes to tackling food waste.

Pledge to do your bit to help get Wales into the top spot and you could be in with a chance of winning a mighty Welsh holiday or adventure! Read on to find out how.

Even though most of us know food never belongs in the rubbish, the reality is that a quarter of household general waste bin is still made up of food waste. That's enough to fill 3,300 double-decker buses every year. And shockingly, 80% of this food could have been eaten, costing the average 4-person household £89 a month. Ouch!

"Whilst most Powys households recycle everyday items such as paper and card, glass, cans, plastic bottles and cartons, many are still not recycling all their food waste." Explains Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys. "In fact, around a quarter of what's in the general rubbish bin is still food, all of which could be recycled easily in the food waste caddies.

"Powys people are already doing a great job at recycling, which is why we have any impressive recycling rate of over 68%, and food waste is where we can all easily do our bit and directly help combat the effects of climate change."

Rescuing food from the rubbish is the top action we can take to get Wales to No.1. Follow these simple tips to find out what you can do then take the pledge to win prizes. You'll also save yourself time and money, whilst helping to creating renewable energy. It's a win, win!

1. Get creative with the food you have left

Sometimes life gets in the way, and we have to improvise with the food we have on hand to avoid it going to waste. See it as a fun challenge! Use up the last bits in your fridge to level up your meals quickly and creatively.

With pumpkin season in full swing, why not turn those edible parts into fritters, curry, or even a smoothie, rather than letting them go to waste? The same goes for those lingering veggies, yesterday's roast, or ripe fruit—toasties, omelettes, and yoghurt sundaes are just a few tasty ideas! Finding new ways to use food before it spoils is satisfying, delicious, and kind to your wallet and the planet.

2. If you can't eat it, recycle it

Don't forget those inedible bits - like banana skins, eggshells, and coffee grounds - should always be recycled. Because when recycled, food waste is turned into renewable energy.

Here in Wales nearly every local authority recycles food waste into cleaner, greener energy, and in 2023, we recycled enough to power over 10,000 homes!

Just one pumpkin skin can power a TV for a Halloween movie marathon - long enough to watch Hocus Pocus and the Addams Family - and one food waste caddy can generate enough energy to power a home for nearly an hour. From teabags, bones, banana skins or even mouldy, out-of-date food - no matter how yucky - it should all go in the food bin. Remember: 'food waste = energy'!

Take the pledge to rescue your food from the rubbish and WIN

Whether you're at home, or out and about, it's time to get smart with food waste.

Pledge to help Wales reach No.1, and you could win an unforgettable holiday for six at Bluestone Resort or free entry to top Welsh attractions like Folly Farm, Zip World, Plantasia, Royal Mint Experience, Welsh Mountain Zoo, or Greenwood Family Park!

Head on over to Wales Recycles to enter.