ALTON Town Council has welcomed the town’s Community Cupboard initiative as a way of helping to reduce food waste.

Town clerk, Leah Coney said: “While the climate emergency has highlighted the need to think carefully about what we consume and what we throw away, the amount of food waste that currently goes to landfill is incredible. If, as a community, we can help reduce the amount of food thrown away by offering it free to anyone who can make use of it, then the town is taking a big step in waste reduction.”

Predicting confusion over the role of the Community Cupboard and the town’s Food Bank, initiative spokesperson Penney Hames said: “The Food Bank has to run to a nationally specified set of criteria helping those most in need. It provides families with a set amount of packaged and tinned food. The Community Cupboard is different: it is available to all. You don’t need permission to come.

“You don’t need a voucher, or to prove that you have no food. Our mission is to reduce waste and everyone can help with that.”