Morrisons in Grantham will be one of the first stores to donate all waste food to foodbanks and charities instead of sending it to a dump
Morrisons has announced plans to roll out an initiative next year that aims to end the waste of edible food in its 500 supermarkets.
Across the UK, unsold food that is still safe to eat will be made available and donated to local community organisations.
They will be able come to the store and collect the food that would previously have been wasted during the week. This includes fresh fruit and vegetables as well as products such as tins and packets.
It follows a trial in more than 100 stores in Yorkshire and the North East that will be extended to all stores during the early part of 2016.
And it involves building a network of community organisations which can all make use of the food.
The level of edible waste is already minimised through measures such as discounting food before it can no longer be sold or using it in our own staff canteens.
The small percentage of edible food in Morrisons stores that is wasted is currently used to produce energy rather than going to landfill.
Morrisons’ group corporate services director Andrew Clappen said: “We don’t like the idea of good food going to waste.
“This programme will ensure that we find a home for the small amount of unsold or used food in our stores.”
Great, as far as it goes. But the food bank cannot accept any fresh produce because they have no way to store it. I fear we are seeing just another publicity stunt.