One of the great opportunities that Conference offers is that the Cabinet are in town and I've been making the most of that today when I spent over an hour with Hilary Benn of DEFRA talking about food waste and the brilliant work that Brighton based charity FareShare do in Sussex.

I learnt all about Fareshare a few months ago when I spent a day as a volunteer with them. Basically, they take waste food from supermarkets and local businesses and distrubute it to people who can use it: charities, voluteer groups and the like.

Last year Fareshare made sure that 280 tons of waste food didn't end up in landfill.

Fareshare's Ian Chisnall clearly impressed Hilary with the scheme and it looks like Fareshare will be included as an example of best practice in the upcoming Food Waste Consultation Document. Hilary also left with a page of notes 'to do' on Fareshare's behalf. Well done Ian and all the brilliant volunteers and staff at FareShare

Tags: food waste, Hilary Benn

Posted on October 1, 2009 in Community Projects and Charities.