Primary schools in Torfaen have reduced their food waste by a third on average thanks to a competition.
Fourteen schools took part in the Waste Warriors competition – cutting their food waste by an average of 33%, which is 13% per cent more than last year.
Pupils monitored and recorded the amount of food thrown away at lunchtimes and planned a campaign to get their fellow pupils to reduce what they threw away.
The winners were pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg Cwmbran, who reduced their food waste by a total of 36%.
They were congratulated for holding an assembly to get the whole school onboard – including the school’s dog.
Cwmffrwdoer Primary School, in Pontypool, were runners up. The judge was impressed by how pupils talked to each class about how food waste can be composted.
Councillor Sue Morgan, Executive member for Sustainability and Waste, said:
“I would like to congratulate Ysgol Gymraeg Cwmbran and Cwmffrwdoer Primary, and thank all the schools who got took part in the competition.
“Learning about reducing food waste at such an early age is so important. It can help children understand where their food comes from, develop a greater appreciation for nature, and make healthier eating choices. It can also help reduce food waste in homes which can help the planet and save money.
“The children have been brilliant advocates of using the brown food waste caddy in school, so we hope the behaviour continues at home.
“Don’t forget, any food that can’t be eaten or used as leftovers should go in the food waste caddy to be recycled. Help us raise the rate by recycling food waste.”
Both schools won an all-day healthy cooking session, thanks to funding from the Torfaen Food4Growth partnership. The group also paid for weighing scales for each school taking part in the competition.
The competition was judged local eco-entrepreneur Lauren Morse, owner of the Zero Waste Torfaen shop, in Cwmbran.
The Waste Warriors competition was launched last year as a way of making the school meal service more sustainable.
