ABSTRACT
The chapter presents an overview of the United Kingdom (UK) waste strategy, highlights the need for more focus on tackling food disposal rates and discusses alternate ways of handling the issue of food waste. A number of studies have drawn attention to the high proportion of food-related waste present in municipal solid waste (MSW). Estimates show that the UK produces around 400 million tonnes of waste annually, of which 29.3 million tonnes is MSW, most of which is disposed of in landfill. The waste strategy for England and Wales published in 2000 sets clear targets for commercial waste, including food waste that is disposed of in landfills. Following the adoption of the strategy requirements, the UK government published a strategy proposal in December 1995 for the sustainable management of waste in England and Wales, entitled Making Waste Work. Certain document sets out the government's waste management policies by building upon the ideas set out in the government's Sustainable Development Strategy.
