Carmarthenshire schools launch food waste monitoring initiative
1 day ago
To mark Stop Food Waste Day (30 April 2025), we're highlighting the Future Generations Menu (FGM) pilot, an initiative to redesign primary school lunches using local produce. The FGM supports health, sustainability, social value, and education while aligning school catering with environmental goals, rural growth, and net-zero targets.
As part of the FGM pilot, three primary schools in Carmarthenshire, Ysgol Teilo Sant, Ysgol Penrhos and Llandeilo Primary School, are reducing food waste by implementing food waste monitoring systems.
These systems will track both avoidable plate waste and unavoidable kitchen waste, providing insights into daily food waste levels in schools, which will help guide future sustainability efforts.
The initiative also encourages pupil involvement, allowing them to actively participate in monitoring food waste.
The FGM is designed to be more sustainable, featuring locally sourced ingredients from Bremenda Farm, a council-owned farm. The planting of fresh produce is calculated to match the amounts needed by the schools, minimising supply chain waste. Specific quantities are delivered to schools weekly, within a day of being harvested.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr. Aled Vaughan Owen said:
This initiative represents a significant step forward in our efforts to create a more sustainable and environmentally conscious school meal system. By engaging students in the monitoring process and working closely with Bremenda Farm, we are not only reducing food waste but also teaching the next generation the importance of sustainability.
If successful, the Council plans to extend the initiative to other schools across the county, including secondary schools, as part of a long-term strategy aimed at significantly reducing food waste countywide.
