‘We try not to waste food’published at 07:47 GMT

07:47 GMT

A mum to four young daughters, Patricia finds leftover food a big headache.

Even after careful meal-planning and composting raw vegetables, food such as meat, bread and uneaten meals still end up in the family’s black bin.

“I mean, we try not to waste food,” says Patricia. “But you know, even if just we’re chopping up vegetables or we have little bits of leftover chicken which we can’t actually eat because it’s like gristly… that all goes in the bin.

“So it ends up being quite lot because we’re a family of six.”

Their local authority, Worcester City Council, expects to bring in weekly food waste collections in spring 2027.

Local politicians have blamed a lack of clarity over government funding for the delay.

It’s frustrating news for Patricia, who is concerned about the environmental impact.

“When areas with fewer resources managed to do it years ago, it’s hard to understand why we’re waiting until 2027,” she says.

Patricia with her four daughters in the kitchen at home. Three of the girls stand next to her while she holds the youngest in her arm. They are looking at the camera and smiling