A government department in Beijing has cut its food waste by installing a surveillance camera in its cafeteria to monitor the workers, said a news report.

The Beijing Commission of City Administration and Environment managed to cut its lunch leftovers from more than 50 kg a day a year ago to the current 10 kg after a surveillance camera was installed, the Beijing Youth Daily reported on Wednesday.

Workers who are caught wasting food will be warned and criticized, and special monitoring staff are on duty at lunchtime, the report said.

The activities are in line with a frugality campaign initiated by the Communist Party of China Central Committee in late 2012, which requires government officials to get closer to the people by cleaning up undesirable work styles including extravagance and excessive bureaucracy.