With Christmas on the horizon, Bedford Borough Council is supporting Love Food Hate Waste’s nationwide festive campaign encouraging residents to ‘Love Your Leftovers: Feast Smart and Waste Less’ - helping households save food, money and time this festive season.
Christmas is often a time for indulging and sharing meals with family and friends - but when shopping trolleys overflow, and plates pile high, it can also mean more food ends up in the bin. Across the UK, millions of tonnes of perfectly good food are wasted every year, costing the average family of four around £1,000 annually and fuelling climate change with an estimated 16 million tonnes of CO₂ from wasted food.
This year’s Love Food Hate Waste campaign shines a spotlight on some of the nation’s most wasted festive favourites - potatoes, poultry, and carrots - brought to life as cowboy-themed “Most Wasted” characters: Spud McRoast, Gobbler McGee and Sheriff Redroot. Each has a starring role in sharing simple tips to help households make the most of every mouthful.
Councillor Nicola Gribble, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Bedford Borough Council, said, “Christmas should be a time for celebration, not waste. Every potato, carrot or slice of turkey we save from the bin helps our wallets and the planet. By making a few small changes - like planning portions, storing food properly, and making the most of leftovers - we can all enjoy festive feasts that don’t cost the earth.”
From fridge overloads to forgotten vegetables, nearly 40% of household food waste occurs because food isn’t used in time. Potatoes and all other uncut fruit and veg, except onions, bananas, and whole pineapples, should be stored in the fridge at 5°C or below, keeping them fresh for longer. ‘Best before’ dates refer to quality, while ‘use by’ dates refer to safety - and the freezer can act as a “pause button” for food nearing its ‘use by’ date.
Love Food Hate Waste’s Food Portion Calculator also helps households serve the right amount for guests, reducing the risk of over shopping or overcooking; https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/foods-and-recipes/food-portion-calculator-your-guide-perfect-portion-sizes
When the big day is over, leftovers become the star of the show. Traditional favourites can be turned into easy new meals - from turkey curries to festive bubble and squeak.
Find out more about this year’s festive campaign and how to love your leftovers at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
Bedford Borough Council will be launching its food waste collection service at the end of March 2026. Food caddies, along with information on how best to use them, will be delivered to homes across Bedford Borough from January.