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<p>The Commission has had no discussions on providing facilities on the parliamentary
estate for hon. Members’ staff and visitors to donate toiletries, and non-perishable
food to a food bank.</p><p>We are unable to provide the proportions for the treatment
of unused and uneaten food waste across the parliamentary estate as we do not separately
record the amount of such waste entering the general waste stream.</p><p>All catering
food waste segregated at the kitchens and food preparation areas is recovered or recycled;
and no general office or catering waste from Parliament is sent to landfill.</p><p>The
majority of food waste generated by the House of Commons is not fit for human consumption.
A very minimal amount of edible food will end up as waste due to the controls in place
to prevent this. Even if a minimal amount of edible food could be recovered, it is
also a legal requirement that this food meets strict hygiene standards even upon donation,
which cannot be guaranteed once it leaves the premises.</p><p>Working closely with
the Maintenance and Environment teams, Catering Services have removed approximately
152 tonnes of organic waste from the general waste stream from August 2015 to July
2016. This is an increase of 30% from the first full year of the scheme.</p><p>There
are no plans for HoC Catering Services to look at alternative ways of recycling food,
i.e. as donations.</p><p>Westminster Chapel, telephone number 020 7834 1731, hosts
the nearest food bank: The Westminster Foodbank, Westminster Chapel, Buckingham Gate,
London, SW1E 6BS. Its opening hours and information about its work can be found at
<a href="http://www.westminsterchapel.org.uk/ministries/foodbank/" target="_blank">http://www.westminsterchapel.org.uk/ministries/foodbank/</a>.
The website has a comprehensive list of food items acceptable for donation.</p><p>Local
charity shops may accept toiletries which are sealed, or clearly new and unused, but
it would be advisable to check with them first.</p>
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