Nature and Ecological Restoration

Food waste is a major cause of environmental degradation.

10% of UK GHG emissions in 2019 were attributed to agriculture. Globally, in the period between 2010 and 2019 agriculture, forestry and other managed land use accounted for between 13% and 21% of anthropogenic GHGs. Around 45% of that was the result of deforestation.

In Watford, we introduced a separate food waste collection in September 2020 (previously it was collected with garden waste). In 2023/24, we collected over 1466 tonnes of separate food waste.

Different foods produce different GHG emissions, and impact can depend on the way food is farmed or produced, particularly the resources needed to feed livestock. Probably the simplest approach to eating sustainably is to eat seasonal, cook from fresh and source local; more vegetables and less meat. Imported meat is a big emitter of greenhouse gas emissions - one kilogram of beef imported from deforested land emits 83.3kg CO2e, while UK beef emits 25kg CO2e. Plant based foods emit much less - one kilogram of nuts and seeds e,ots 2.3kg CO2e. You can read more about the emissions of different foods here. 

With agriculture and food growing having a significant impact, it is imperative to reduce our avoidable food waste. Reducing our food waste has a number of benefits, not least reducing the cost to us, but also reducing the amount of food required to be produced and disposed of, and the land and energy these processes require.

Food security is increasingly going to become an issue as climate patterns change. Reductions in fossil fuel use, food miles and land availability will lead to changes in global supply. We need to look at how to increase the resilience of our food supply chain and increase its diversity, while ensuring that land is managed equitably. In this way we can ensure the potentially competing demands of food growing, wild spaces and energy provision (e.g. biofuels, solar farms, wind farms) are effectively addressed.

While Watford has good allotment provision, it does not currently have much other food growing space, whether agricultural or horticultural. As an urban borough, it also does not have the hinterland to support the town within its own boundaries.

It is important to reconnect people to where their food comes from, and provide a way for all sectors of society to engage. This is being successfully achieved through the allotments, and can be extended through community growing initiatives such as Incredible Edible, community gardens, community allotments and market gardens, as well as edible landscaping.