Morrisons has announced that it will become the first supermarket to donate all unsold food to community projects.

It is leading the way for supermarkets for make positive change after a public outcry over the amount of edible food being thrown out.

An estimated 15million tonnes of food is being thrown away in the UK every year, by supermarkets and families.

Leading the way: Morrisons will begin donating all unsold food that is still safe to eat from early next year, after public outcry over how much food Britain wastes every year

Some supermarkets have even been accused of deliberately sabotaging discarded food, by covering it in bleach or coffee granules, to stop people foraging through their bins.

But from early next year, Morrisons will be taking a big step to combat the waste.

A trial in stores in Yorkshire and the northeast found that each one could donate up to four trolley loads of food a week to community groups working to feed the hungry.

The initiative will soon be launched in all of Morrisons 500 stores across the county, with a member of staff at each one being appointed ‘community champion’.

Their role will be to take responsibility for working with community projects whose responsibility it will be to collect the food.

Steven Butts, the supermarket’s head of corporate responsibility, said up to 3,500 tonnes of edible food would be donated annually.

‘The challenge is finding the right community partners to work with. What we have available will vary,’ he told The Times.

‘Ideally we are looking for groups that can cook the food, meaning they can blend it [with food from other sources].’

Left to rot: A trial in stores in Yorkshire and the northeast found that each one could donate up to four trolley loads of food a week to community groups working to feed the hungry (file image of discarded food)

Something borrowed: Zoe Chambers and Charlie Loughlin used vegetables that were destined for rubbish bins to prepare two mouth-watering dishes for their wedding reception

The supermarket will donate all food that is safe to be eaten, which means they will be legally unable to donate food that has passed its ‘use by’ date.

However, Morrisons will donate food that has passed its ‘best before’ date, as it refers to the quality of the food rather than its safety.

Food will be given to projects to cook and serve in community cafes, homeless shelters and drop-in centres.

Finding a use for food discarded by supermarkets has become increasingly popular in recent years, and just last month, one couple treated their wedding guests to a recycled banquet.

Zoe Chambers, 28, and Charlie Loughlin, 27, from Cambridge, said their 150-strong party ‘loved’ the food.