Our Zero Selby, a community-led project run by the charity Up for Yorkshire, will host its next Zero Hero event, “Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Food Waste,” on Tuesday, 25th March, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Portholme Church, Selby. This event aims to shed light on the issue of food waste at a wider, industrial scale, providing insights beyond the typical household food waste discussions.
Mel Howram, Operations Director at Food Aware, will be the guest speaker, providing expert insights into the complexities of food waste within the supply chain, retail, and industrial sectors. She will delve into the economic and environmental impacts of large-scale food waste, revealing how these costs are often absorbed into the prices consumers pay.
“We want to move the conversation beyond the kitchen bin,” says Claire Hetherington, Project Lead at Our Zero Selby. “This event is about understanding the massive amounts of food waste generated throughout the food industry, and how this impacts our economy and environment. Mel Howram’s expertise will provide invaluable insights into this critical issue.”
This event aligns with the priority areas identified by Selby residents during Our Zero Selby’s pilot phase, where food waste emerged as a critical concern. In response, Our Zero Selby has launched various initiatives, including an allotment composting project offering compost tumblers to residents (https://www.ourzeroselby.org.uk/news-and-events/allotmentcomposttumblers), and supports the Up For Yorkshire community fridge (https://upforyorkshire.org.uk/selby-community-fridge/), aimed at reducing waste and providing access to surplus food.
Our Zero Selby addresses food waste within its broader themes of “What We Eat” (https://www.ourzeroselby.org.uk/what-we-eat) and “What We Buy and Waste” (https://www.ourzeroselby.org.uk/waste), promoting sustainable consumption and waste reduction practices. These initiatives encourage residents to consider the environmental impact of their food choices and purchasing habits. Our Zero Selby have online toolkits which offer practical tips and resources to help residents make more sustainable choices (https://www.ourzeroselby.org.uk/toolkits).
The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register to secure their place and help with catering numbers (https://rebrand.ly/zo40xhs or call Claire on 01757 291111 claire@upforyorkshire.org.uk).
