Waste less, Save more project

We are committed to working with partners and residents to reduce waste across the District and have an established history of innovative activities to reduce waste.

Our strong commitment meant we won a national competition to work with Sainsbury's on their £1million 'Waste less, Save more' project. This money was spent in South Derbyshire 2016-18 to benefit residents and it left a legacy of resources, knowledge and experience, creating new opportunities and partnerships. 

The aims were to:

  • reduce food waste
  • help people reduce their food bills
  • deliver health benefits
  • be innovative
  • be fun

New technology was tested, recipes were created from the most commonly thrown away foods, and schools welcomed the Menu Magician and Fab Foods.   Food Saver Champions went around the District in their pop-up restaurant catering vehicle and residents were offered information, activities, games and ideas to reduce general, household, catering and picnic food waste.

These initiatives helped the average family and Swadlincote schools to slash their annual food waste bill. 

It also created resources which are still in regular use.

Our ideas and what we learned were shared with communities right across the UK to make a real difference. We can all still benefit from the ideas and organisations which came to South Derbyshire like OLIO and 'Too Good to Go' - helping save leftovers and make them available to local people.

Click here (pdf, 2.1mb) to see the results of the trials carried out in Swadlincote and read the report published by Sainsbury’s.

Our Picnic Rescue, Menu Magic and Fab Foods projects won national awards for best practice and the resources are still in use.

Follow all the latest updates on the project by liking our Swadlincote Waste less, Save more Facebook page and for details of specific projects, visit our Fab Food Schools Programme, Picnic Rescue and SnapBox pages. You will also find lots of ideas, recipes and money-saving tips on the Love Food Hate Waste / Preventing food waste website.

Some more recent waste less projects include

  • the increased recycling programme that we have across our public buildings. This includes the elimination of single use plastic water cups in all the offices, replacing them with recyclable cups and encouraging staff members to bring their own reusable water bottles to work.
  • The reduction in single use plastic water bottles is extended to the external Council events where residents and stall holders are encouraged to use reusable bottles.
  • Within the Public Buildings, the Council is encouraging the increase in recycling rates, with specific focus on reducing waste food being dumped in landfill sites. All kitchens throughout the Council Offices have introduced separate food waste bins and additional recycling categories to increase recycling rates.
  • The Council also work in partnership with local supermarkets to redistribute surplus food to support local residents as well as reducing potential food waste.

From June 2026 all residents will separate their food waste from all other waste using new kerbside caddies - part of the Government's Simpler Recycling initiative.

For more information on the kerbside collections the Council offers and what you can do to reuse more, recycle what is left and reduce food waste, go to our recycling page via the link below:  https://www.southderbyshire.gov.uk/our-services/recycling-bins-and-waste

For events and activities to reduce food waste in schools, contact our Environmental Education Project rosliston@southderbyshire.gov.uk  

Later in 2026 there will also be a Waste Education Officer at the Council and we will post their contact details here when appointed.