Redistribute surplus food
Preventing food from being thrown away in the first place is top priority. However, sometimes surplus food arises due to over-ordering, changing demand and even the weather! If you find that you have surplus food which is still edible, consider redistributing it to people in need through one of the organisations or food sharing apps below.
community fridges
Cambridge Sustainable Food partnered with The Edge Cafe on Mill Road to install the city’s first Community Fridge in 2017. Following its success, we are establishing more fridges around the city.
The Community Fridges are part of a national network which aims to help people connect with their local communities, access nutritious food, save money and reduce waste. Organisations and individuals can donate unwanted food to the fridge, which can then be collected free by anyone in need.
With the arrival of Covid-19, we have launched seven Community Food Hubs with partners across Cambridge. The hubs provide free food to those in need through Community Fridges and freezers at these venues. The hubs are open to food donations from businesses, organisations and growers. If you have surplus food to donate, please complete this enquiry form and we will be in touch.
foodcycle cambridge
FoodCycle Cambridge has been running since 2010 and offers three free meals in the city each week, as well as catering for special events.
FoodCycle collect and cook surplus fruit and veg, bread, pastries and cakes, dairy products, store cupboard/ ambient foods and flowers from local organisations including Sainsbury’s, the City Foodbank, Cambridge Crop Share, the Cambridge Fruit and Veg Company and Lensfield Road Farmer’s Market.
For further information about donating your surplus food to FoodCycle, email Vib and Gordon at cambridge@foodcycle.org.uk (include ‘for the attention of Vib/ Gordon’ in your email subject line).
Cambridge City foodbank
Cambridge City Foodbank collects food for emergency distribution to people in need across eight food banks in the city. Operating since 2010, the food bank has distributed over 4,500 emergency three-day food parcels in the last year alone.
You can donate non-perishable, in date and unopened items. All goods should be of a size suitable for packing into food boxes – no catering sizes please. For more information on what items are needed now and how to donate, visit https://cambridgecity.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/
olio
Olio connects neighbours with each other and with local shops and cafes so that surplus food can be shared, not thrown way.
To make an item available, simply open the app, add a photo, description and when and where the item is available for pick up. Depending on how much surplus food you have, Olio might even be able to find a volunteer to collect and redistribute your surplus.
Find out more at https://olioex.com
too good to go
Too Good To Go fights food waste by giving stores a platform to sell their surplus food. Sign up and give it a try!
Visit https://toogoodtogo.co.uk/about-us to find out more.