Typical family throws away £700 of food in a year

This trolley laden with cake, chocolates and a smattering of vegetables shows the amount of food the average family will throw out over Christmas.

The festive period may be a time for indulgence but come the new year, research suggests, our bins are often as bulging as our waistlines.

Customers at Tesco in Mogden Lane, Isleworth, were advised on Monday (December 16) how to cut down on waste by shopping sensibly, storing food properly and using leftovers. A typical family throws away £700 a year on consumables which end up in the bin, according to the West London Waste Authority.

Staff from the organisation, which is responsible for waste disposal in Hounslow and five surrounding boroughs, put together this trolley-load of food to show families how much goes uneaten over Christmas alone.

It teamed up with Tesco to host the advice and information stall for customers, days after the supermarket giant had criticised ‘fussy’ customers for rejecting misshapen fruit and veg, and letting them go to waste.