Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council support Food Waste Action Week, running from 9 to 15 March 2026. The event promotes the Love Food Hate Waste campaign with the theme of making food last longer for household budgets and the environment.

UK households discard 4.4 million tonnes of edible food each year. This amounts to about £1,000 annually for a family of four. The waste generates 16 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

Councils urge residents to use leftovers in meals, plan shopping to match needs, and recycle uneaten portions. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Philip Campbell stated that planning meals, correct storage, and using leftovers help save money and protect the environment.

Dr Sam Hubble, Specialist for Food System Transformation at WRAP, noted that consuming purchased food saves money, resources, and aids the planet.

In Newry, Mourne and Down, food waste in brown bins goes to an in-vessel composting facility. There it becomes compost and soil conditioner for homes, farms, and communities.