Let's see how much the UK wastes every year, shall we?

This latest post was inspired by my grandparents, both of whom waste nothing, are grateful for everything and respect everyone and everyone's needs. I've been combing the internet for reliable sources of information regarding what the UK throws away every year financially. Oh and by the way, the US is apparently even worse for this.
To convert the amounts into your national currency, Google (number) GBP to (your country's currency [like this >]) Indian Rupee. Google itself should give you a very accurate number to many decimal places. For example, at today's exchange rate 1b Pounds is 75.25b Rupees.

Current sub-total: £84,486,000,000 yearly. I will update as I find more sources.


FOOD - £10,000,000,000/6,700,000 Tons

More than half of the 6.7 million tons of food that is thrown away each year - enough to fill Wembley Stadium eight times - is untouched and could have been eaten, according to the Government-funded Waste and Resources Action Programme. Researchers found that £1b of that (£1,000,000,000) is still "in date". More than half (£5,000,000,000) is untouched and edible. - Source 1

Needless Luxuries - £74.45b (£74,450,000,000)

Some of you will dispute the fact that they're needless and say they're important economic or social aspects of life, but I disagree. They're needless.

Alcohol - £55b (£55,000,000,000)

Spent on buying booze: £30b (£30,000,000,000) - Source 2

Although the alcohol industry is beneficial to the economy by turning over £30b annually, that money would only come from elsewhere if the workers in the industry gained new, more useful jobs.

Drinking related costs: £25b (£25,000,000,000) - Source 3

Cigarettes -  Almost £18b (£17,950,000,000)

Cost to National Health Service - £1.5b (£1,500,000,000) - Source 4

While that page is very outdated, the stats won't have changed for the better - that much I know.

Spent on cigs - £16.45b (£16,450,000,000) Source 5 (£7 for a pack of 20, divide by 20 makes 0.35p per cigarette, multiply this by 47b [Source 6])
I do have a counter argument for the tobacco industry though, and that is the fact that is the main source of income in many developing nations, and so taking it away would be devastating to them. I put smoking on here just as a value. However, I would welcome any discussion on the possible alternatives to tobacco crop.

Cosmetic Surgery - £1.5b (£1,500,000,000) - Source 7
This is only morally right in the case of disfigurement, and I have no respect for many celebrities purely for this reason.

Recyclable But Thrown Away
Aluminium - £36m (£36,000,000) Source 8
There is a lot more thrown away which should be recycled, but I'm running out of time so I'm going to have to leave it there.

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In comparison, Africa's total external debt totals $300b, or £180b (Source). So, imagine if the whole world stopped wasting common goods and stopped paying for stupid things. Theoretically, The US and The UK could wipe off that amount in one year, but we all know that's damn impossible. If only... But the whole world? The rest of Europe, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Australia, NZ, Canada etc' could surely do something of immense benefit.

There are, of course, arguments against everything. Please feel free to discuss below,
Thank you for reading.