Commenting today on the government-funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Roger Williams, Liberal Democrat Food and Rural Affairs Spokeperson, has criticised the Government for the impact funding cuts to WRAP will have on food waste reduction. 

The figures, received in a response to a series of parliamentary questions, showed that, since 2005-2006, total funding allocated to the Waste and Resources Action Programme from DEFRA’s funding streams have nearly halved in three years.

Commenting on this Mr Williams said:

“The Waste and Resources Action Programme was launched by the Government three years ago to encourage supermarkets to take steps to reduce food waste”

“The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) has condemned targets set by the Government’s waste-reduction programme as unambitious and lacking urgency”

“The amount of food waste generated by retailers has reached a staggering record of 1.6 million tonnes this year, but WRAP’s budget will be facing cuts of 25% in 2008-09.

“I think these figures clearly show that the Government has not pressured retailers enough into setting tougher targets to cut waste and that is not committed at all in taking effective actions to improve waste recycling in Britain”

“The Government needs long-terms targets to be set, supporting a culture of zero-waste and helping people get the most from the food they buy and waste less of it”

“WRAP and its partners are running a “Love Food Hate Waste campaign”. I call upon the Government to give that campaign all the support it deserves.”