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Mayor calling for new legislation for food wastage
STOP FOOD WASTAGE: Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Michael Gleeson is hoping the Government will introduce new legislation to stop food wastage. Photo: Michelle Crean
By Michelle Crean
EXCLUSIVE
One local councillor is calling on the Government introduce legislation making it compulsory for all retail outlets to donate food close to its ‘Best Before Date’, to charity.
Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Michael Gleeson says the amount of perfectly good food which is wasted is outrageous.
At this month’s meeting of Kerry County Council, he proposed that Kerry County Council would call on the Government to introduce legislation that would make it compulsory for shops to donate food that is about to reach its ‘Best Before Date’ to charitable/humanitarian organisations.
“There are many charitable organisations who would gladly accept this food and distribute it wisely,” Cllr Gleeson told the Killarney Advertiser.
“I’m asking to make food which has come close to or reached its ‘Best Before Date’, to make it available to local charities who can then use it wisely to benefit those in need. It will stop food wastage. At least 30 percent goes to landfill which is a huge waste of resources and money for households.”
He said that tens of thousands of tonnes of food is disposed of in this manner every year.
He acknowledged that some supermarkets at present donate this food to deserving causes and thanked them for so doing, but stated that there is much room for improvement.
He suggested that legislation may ultimately be the only means of ensuring that all food is used wisely.
“The old adage of ‘wilful waste makes woeful want’ is still applicable,” he added.
The Motion was seconded and will now be forwarded to Government for consideration.


