I AM concerned to learn that up to 40 per cent of the UK’s food is wasted.

We should be able to improve the shelf life of fruit and vegetables in local supermarkets and recycle waste into fertiliser.

Council officers have informed me that they are in negotiations to provide facilities to do this.

I have been informed that 30 per cent of County Durham homes now have composters – a very effective method of recycling.

Councillor Ben Ord, Durham County Council.