A fatal phrase: “I’m sure we’ll be able to use them.” Another: “At that price, we might as well.” Casual lines such as these result in millions of us buying fruit and vegetables we don’t need. And millions of these purchases end up swelling the mountains of rotting landfill once they’re thrown away.

Millions? You’d better believe it. Research by Waste & Resources Action Programme (Wrap) sets forth some astonishing figures on how fresh produce is wasted. The big five are potatoes, apples, tomatoes, bananas and oranges, and every day we throw them away in prodigious numbers: 5.1 million potatoes, 4.4 million apples, 2.6 million tomatoes, 1.6 million bananas, 1.2 million oranges.

The throwaway weight of these items is more than 500,000 tonnes. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, food and garden waste accounts for about 20 per cent of the UK’s methane emissions from landfill. Wrap is teaming up with Sainsbury’s to provide tips about storage; visit www.sainsburys.co.uk or follow links at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com. The sites are full of sensible advice, such as keeping fresh foods in the fridge.

The best way to prevent food waste is to avoid buying too much in the first place. A shopping list (followed without deviation) is essential here, but just as important is checking the refrigerator and larder before you leave the house. This isn’t to find out what you need, but to find out what you don’t need. Some people have a deep-seated need to buy certain foods – my personal weakness is lemons – whenever they near a greengrocer.

Don’t be tempted by special offers on food you don’t have a plan for; in fact, try to avoid prepacked bags of food altogether. You may think you’ll be able to use them, but half a million tonnes of landfill says that you’re wrong.

greenkitchen@thetimes.co.uk

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