Statutory guidance

Food and drink waste hierarchy: deal with surplus and waste

You must consider this guidance if you deal with surplus or waste food and drink.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 18 December 2018
• Last updated: 1 January 2024
  Show all updates

  1. 1 January 2024

     Removed cross compliance requirements for England. Cross compliance no longer applies in England from 1 January 2024.

  2. 6 April 2023

     Updated the guidance.

  3. 1 April 2021

     Removed reference to biodiesel from the section on Biomaterial processing.

  4. 18 December 2018

     First published.

Documents

Food and drink waste hierarchy: deal with surplus and waste

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Details

This guidance is for anyone who does any of the following with surplus or waste food and drink:

• produce
• handle
• treat
• dispose of

You can use the food and drink waste hierarchy to prevent surplus, recycle and dispose of waste if you’re a:

• farmer or food producer
• manufacturer
• retailer
• hospitality and food service providers
• local authority