Mapping Waste in the Food Industry
The report provides a snapshot of the amount and
geographical distribution of food and packaging
waste arising across FDF member sites along
with how this waste is being managed.
The report - Mapping Waste in the Food Industry (pdf, 2Mb) - was produced by Oakdene Hollins for Defra and The Food and Drink
Federation (FDF)
Executive Summary
This 2010 report builds on the previous study to
provide an updated snapshot of the amount and
geographical distribution of food and packaging
waste arising across FDF member sites along
with how this waste is being managed.
Data
were gathered for both 2008 and 2009 from 149
manufacturing sites and, where appropriate,
were also compared to the 2006 data from the
previous report. A smaller sub sample of 115
sites providing data for all three years was
analysed in order to identify trends.
The 2008 and 2009 returns have also been
amalgamated to give a representation of FDF
member practices according to different
geographical areas. These areas were
determined according to the number of sites
responding from specific counties. Those areas
showing small number of responding sites were
combined to maintain confidentiality.
Of the 481,000 tonnes waste produced in 2009
by the 149 responding sites, only 43,000 tonnes
(9%) was sent to landfill, with 435,000 tonnes
(90.3%) recovered or recycled in some manner.
This was a significant improvement on both the
2006 and the 2008 data, where 16.5% and
12.5% of arisings were sent to landfill
respectively.
This shows that FDF is making
good progress towards meeting its target of
seeking to send zero food and packaging waste to landfill from 2015, part of
its
'Five-Fold
Environmental Ambition'.
There were no substantial 'hotspots' for landfill;
no area sent more than 5,000 tonnes to landfill
in 2009; eight areas sent less than 1,000 tonnes.
The majority of waste sent to landfill in both
2008 and 2009 was mixed food and packaging
waste, which is similar to the findings of the first
survey. Also the majority of the arisings
occurred due to food waste yet only a small
fraction (i.e. 1.7% in 2009) of this was landfilled.
In both years, FDF members produced over
340,000 tonnes of by-products and surpluses,
with a significant tonnage (approx 98% of total)
going to animal feed.
Analysis of the sub sample of 115 sites providing
data for all three years suggested that a
decoupling of waste generation against
production has taken place, in line with the
'more for less' approach. Actual waste arisings
have decreased by 16.5% over the three years
surveyed whilst production has increased over
the period by 3%.
A shift towards the middle tier of the waste
hierarchy is apparent. As in 2006, landspreading
was the dominant waste management option,
its share increasing to 63% of all waste
generated. Two areas used anaerobic digestion in 2009. The results show growth
in uptake
of anaerobic digestion, albeit from a modest base. There clearly
remains ample opportunity for broader uptake
of this technology.
The previous report suggested that targeting
waste segregation at source should be
prioritised, to reduce the tonnage of mixed
waste going to landfill.
The latest survey data
showed a decrease in mixed waste as a
proportion of total waste arisings, suggesting
that more segregation is occurring although
there is still opportunity for improvement.
More Information
Last reviewed: 06 Dec 2011