In case you didn’t know, Wales is killing it at recycling, now ranking second in the world. It’s an amazing achievement, but let’s be real – nobody likes being second best. That’s why we need your help push Wales to the top. You in? We thought so. Here’s how you can make it happen… and it all starts with food.
Food waste: The key to getting to No. 1
Here’s the lowdown: food waste makes up a quarter of the average rubbish bin, and a whooping 80% of it could have been eaten. Even the bits you can’t eat can still be put to work. Just by putting them in the food caddy instead of the bin, you’re helping create renewable energy. Believe it or not, recycling just five teabags could create enough electricity to charge a smartphone. And four recycled banana peels could charge a tablet. Pretty epic, right?
If Wales is going to be the best in the world, you’re the ones who’ll make it happen. Young people like you are already stepping up, with food waste recycling among 18- to 24-year-olds jumping from 59% in 2023 to 74% this year. But that’s still below the national average of 80%. And while 62% of Welsh adults are classed as “highly efficient recyclers” who make sure no food ends up in the bin, only 27% of 18-24-year-olds are reaching that level.
Ready to raise the bar? Here’s the mission:
Eat all the food you buy – all of it!
Recycle the inedible bits, like bones and eggshells, in your food waste caddy
Make sure nothing food-related goes in the bin
Why it's worth it
Not only are you helping the planet, but you’re also saving money. A four-person shared household could save £84 a month just by cutting out food waste, and who couldn’t use an extra £84 for something more exciting than binned food?
By recycling what you can’t eat – like storks, eggshells, bones and peelings – you’re also creating greener cleaner energy. Don’t have a food caddy? Order one today.
Just one caddy full of food waste could create enough energy to power a typical home for almost an hour. It’s an easy win, win!
Meal inspo: Make the most of the food you have
Give your random fridge veg a glow-up with this tasty three-course menu put together by Dirty Vegan Chef, Matt Pritchard, along with Cardiff Met student, Holly Davies, for our Be Mighty. Recycle supper club. It’s budget-friendly and makes the most of what’s already in your fridge.
Matt and Holly’s easy three-course meal menu
To start
Roasted vegetable soup
Roast whatever veggies you’ve got, blend them with stock boil and blend
Remember to recycle: Veggie stalks, inedible peelings
Main course
Spaghetti surprise
Tomato sauce base with any leftover veg (or meat) and a sprinkle of parmesan or any cheese you’ve got.
Remember to recycle: Veggie stalks, bones (if adding meat), parmesan rind
Dessert
Yogurt sundae
Yoghurt topped with any fruit, sprinkled with biscuits, nuts, granola and other treats hanging around
Remember to recycle: Banana skins and other inedible fruit peelings
These quick, creative meals help you make the most of what’s in your kitchen, and any inedible bits can go straight into your food caddy, ready to be turned into renewable energy.
Boosting Wales to No. 1 is simple: rescue your food from the bin by eating what you can to save money and recycling what you can’t eat to create energy! Take the pledge to do your bit and you’ll be in with a chance of winning a delicious Welsh prize.
We’ll leave you with some words of wisdom from Cardiff Met student, Holly Davies.
Considering young people today often seem to lead the charge in terms of awareness and activism on environmental issues, it’s surprising that we’re lagging behind on something that’s such an easy thing to do. Creating a sustainable world is everyone’s responsibility, so hopefully people will realise the importance of using up all the food they buy and using their food recycling service.
Visit our Be Mighty. Recycle page to discover how you can save money and help create renewable energy by making the most of your food.