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Around the world, one third of all food produced is wasted. In the UK alone, we throw away approximately 10 million tonnes of food every year. This is enough to fill the Shard in London nearly 100 times over.
When we waste food, we also waste the water, energy and labour that went into producing it. Furthermore, food rotting in landfill releases methane, which is a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than CO2. This Stop Food Waste Day, Bywaters is joining the global movement to draw the line against waste.
Here are five effective ways your home or business can be part of the solution in 2026.
Master the Art of the Shopping List
Smart shopping is the first line of defence. Research suggests that a significant portion of food waste happens because we buy on impulse.
Before heading to the store, check your cupboards and fridge to see what you already have. By creating a specific meal plan and a corresponding list, you avoid purchasing excess items that eventually wilt in the bottom of the fridge. Only buy what you know you will eat before the “use by” date.
Understand Your Labels
A common mistake that leads to unnecessary waste is the confusion between “use by” and “best before” dates.
Use By: This is a safety date. You should not eat food past this date.
Best Before: This is a quality date. The food is still perfectly safe to eat after this point, though it may not be at its absolute peak flavour or texture. By understanding this distinction, you can prevent perfectly good food from being binned prematurely.
Store Food for Longevity
Correct storage can double the life of your groceries. Most fresh produce, with the exception of onions, bananas and potatoes, stays fresh longer when kept in the fridge.
Utilise your freezer as a “pause button.” Many items including bread, milk and even certain fruits can be frozen if you realise you will not get to them in time. In 2026, there are countless online resources to help you learn which foods thrive in different environments.
Repurpose and Donate
Before you scrape leftovers into the bin, consider if they can be reimagined for lunch the next day. Soup, stews and stir-fries are excellent ways to use up vegetable scraps and proteins.
For surplus food that is still sealed and safe, consider donating to local food banks or using apps like Olio and Too Good To Go. These platforms connect people and businesses with surplus food to those in the community who can use it, ensuring that nutrition stays on plates and out of the waste stream.
Professional Food Waste Management
In 2026, UK legislation regarding food waste has become much stricter for businesses. Most organisations are now required to separate food waste from their general rubbish.
At Bywaters, we champion Anaerobic Digestion (AD) as the most sustainable way to handle unavoidable food waste. Through this process, your food scraps are broken down by microorganisms in a sealed environment to produce biogas for green energy and nutrient-rich bio-fertiliser for UK farms. This turns a “waste” problem into a renewable resource.
Join the Bywaters Movement
Preventing food waste is a cornerstone of a circular economy. Whether you are an individual at home or a facility manager for a large London office, your choices have a global impact.
Bywaters provides bespoke food waste collections and sustainability consultations to help organisations reach their zero-waste targets. We use data from our BRAD reporting platform to show you exactly how much food you are diverting from landfill and the carbon savings you are achieving.
Ready to draw the line against food waste? Contact our sustainability team today to find out how we can optimise your food waste strategy for 2026 and beyond.
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