Here at Count On It™ we are usually on the hunt for tips and gadgets to help you reduce food waste in the home.  However, we have heard about a great new campaign to reduce waste in restaurants and we thought we would share it with you.  But first here is a horrifying fact…..

Did you know that the average UK restaurant throws out 21 tonnes of food a year. Astonishingly, 30% of that comes straight off diners’ plates. That’s 6.3 tonnes – or close to the weight of a double decker bus.

To combat this appalling waste a fantastic campaign “Too Good To Waste” has been launched by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA).   The idea behind it is simple and direct – the humble doggy box.  And what’s more, top chefs including Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall, Thomasina Miers and Anthony Worrell-Thompson are backing the campaign.

The SRA has distributed 25,000 custom made biodegradable, recyclable doggy boxes to nearly 100 restaurants in London.  The SRA has also provided the restaurants with information packs to help them reduce their waste by up to 20% and save lots of money as well.   Participating restaurants will display a sticker to show that they are taking part.   Alternatively you can check out www.toogood-towaste.co.uk to find a restaurant near you that will be happy to pack up your leftovers.

For those of us outside of London do not despair the SRA hope to roll the campaign out nationwide in 2012.  In the meantime, there is nothing to stop you asking a restaurant to pack up any left over food. You should not be too embarrassed to ask and any chef worth his or her salt would much rather you took the food home to enjoy the next day, than have it chucked in the bin.

If you over-catered a meal at home would you throw the remains in the bin or would you box them up, put them in the fridge or freezer and heat up another time? Well, if the answer is the latter, then why not do the same when eating out.

Have you ever asked for a doggy bag and what was the response? Or are you too embarrassed?  We’d love to know your thoughts on this so please let us know in the comments section below.

R3GQHVUMZ4S7