Almost half of what local people chuck in their bins is food, the council has revealed.

More than 20 per cent of food found in food waste bins across the Hounslow borough was avoidable waste that could have been eaten.

Hounslow Council is marking Food Action Waste Week (1-7 March) by asking residents to make small changes that will make a big difference in the fight against climate change.

It is urging residents to make small changes that will make a big difference in the fight against climate change.

Food Waste Action, a campaign which runs between March 1-7, is designed to get the UK public and organisations to reduce their food waste to as close to zero as possible over the seven days.

One of the biggest contributors to climate change is food waste.

Experts say when we throw away food that could have been eaten, we are not just wasting food but the valuable resources that went into making it, including water, land, and greenhouse gases.

People in the UK throw away 4.5 million tonnes of edible food every year, which is enough to make an extra 10 million meals.

Councillor Guy Lambert, Cabinet Member for Highways, Recycling and Trading Companies at Hounslow Council, said: "Hounslow residents show a great commitment to food waste recycling and we have a comprehensive plan in place to continue increasing the number of households with access to food recycling.

"We love that our residents recycle the food waste they generate because it gets processed in London to make fertiliser for agriculture and gas for domestic and transport use – which is much better than being incinerated in the general waste stream.

"However, in Hounslow we need to do much more to help reduce waste and carbon emissions. With residents spending more time at home than normal we have seen a big increase in waste including food compared to previous years.

"The next step in the fight against climate change for Hounslow residents is not simply to recycle their food waste, but to consider if it needs to end up in their food caddy in the first place.

"Of course, some food waste is unavoidable – make sure you recycle this if you can –but we are seeing increases in avoidable food waste.

"Making small changes to your daily routine can make a big difference, such as planning your meals for the week and only buying the food you need, understanding the difference between 'use by' and 'best before' dates or even making the most of your leftovers. These changes will not only help save the planet but also save money."

Small changes to everyone's daily habits can help reduce food waste and save the planet. These include:

• Being clear on dates, use by dates are for safety but best before dates are all about quality it could still be consumed.

• Meal preparation and planning so you only buy what you need.