Waste-free week 2021 gave perspective

From 7 to 13 September was the Waste Free Week. During this week the whole of the Netherlands went #wastefree, full of inspiration and fun actions. The Waste Free Week in the Food Valley region gave us the perspective of wasting less food this week and throughout the year.

Starting at the basis

Twenty primary schools were busy this week with the Taste Mission Food Waste and also for secondary and vocational schools there were special teaching packages and projects. On Wednesday 9 September, technology students presented their ideas within the project 'Stop Food Waste' to aldermen in the Food Valley region. About 300 students from 3-VWO made a design in different assignments to preserve food longer, to use residual streams or to activate young people to waste less food.

In Nijkerk, the pupils of VMBO Aeres received a master class in cooking with leftovers. Alderman Mariëlle Broekman joined the master class. On the last day of this theme week, VMBO pupils from Het Perron in Veenendaal attended a master class in cooking without wasting food.

Theme tables and market stalls

Various theme tables were set up in the region. In Scherpenzeel, a stall was also set up at the market, where fridge and freezer stickers, eating buddies and 'waste-free' recipes were handed out.

FoodSharing Wageningen organised a free take-away dinner, made from residual products. Meals made with love and from food that would otherwise be thrown away. People could bring their own food storage box from home and fill it with a delicious vegetable meal.

Communication

There was massive communication in the region about the Waste Free Week: from A0 signs along the road to fridge stickers in door-to-door magazines and waste-free tips on social media. And Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling (Together Against Food Waste) had a photo exhibition with Spill-Free Heroes.

regiofoodvalley.nl