Called Small Change, Big Difference, the campaign shines a light on the food thrown away every year - in Merton 3,400 tonnes of food waste is collected every year, costing the council nearly £1million.

To support the campaign people in Merton have been contributing to the campaign which includes a series of short films showing tips from residents and people who work in the borough.

Photographs of raw food art have been sent in by residents for a competition, with the winning entries displayed on hoardings around the borough.

The council has also teamed up with Wimbledon Art college student Megan Dennis, who has created an art display on Fair Green in Mitcham.

The sculpture will be in place until December 15.

Three dimensional pavement art has also been sprung up in Wimbledon, Morden and Mitcham town centres along with the messages “make your meat go further”, “get canny with your cooking” and “recycling isn’t a strain”.

Merton Council was chosen by Resource London as part of its EU-funded initiative.

Councillor Ross Garrod said: “Having recently won the most improved borough at the Good Food for All Londoners event, we are passionate and dedicated to raising awareness around the prevention of food waste.

“This campaign shows that simple ideas and small changes can reduce the environmental impact of the food we eat, as well as save us money and make us healthier.

“I would like to thank the Dementia Hub in Mitcham for getting involved in the films we made and also to Wimbledon Guild. It has also been wonderful to work with the Wimbledon College of Arts on this.”