Torfaen Council’s school catering team is changing how dinners are planned, sourced and produced.

The team aim to reduce the impact of the food they serve up on greenhouse gas emissions. A new plan sets out their plans for the next two years.

Schools and pupils can follow its progress and are involved in some of the projects. One initiative has been a Waste Warriors competition for primary schools to encourage pupils to monitor and reduce food waste at dinner time.

The work the service has done to develop the plan has now been shortlisted for a national award by LACA, the leading professional body representing the school food sector.

The finals will be on Thursday 6 July at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole.

Councillor Mandy Owen, executive member for the environment, said: “The School’s Catering Team are very ambitious when it comes to topics such as reducing food waste, and cutting down their carbon emissions. I wish them the best of luck on the evening – the deserve the recognition.

“They are working really hard with schools and other partners to make school meals tasty, nutritious and sustainable.”

Food recycling in schools

Last year, the council’s launched a new food waste recycling service for primary schools and secondary schools which use the Torfaen Catering Service. It’s just one of the ways in which the council is aiming to increase recycling to meet the Welsh Government’s target of 70% recycling by 2025.