Kiveton community fridge set up to tackle food waste empties within hour of opening
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Kerry Lowe and Joy Wright, trustees of Kiveton Park and Wales Community Development Trust, set up the project so they could help redistribute food past its best-by date to stop it from going to waste.
The project officially launched in Little Yorkshire sandwich shop on Wales Road on Tuesday, October 25, with thanks to the donation of a domestic fridge freezer by resident Marc Waldock.
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Hide AdThe fridge was packed full of food free to collect from Kiveton’s Co-op that would otherwise have been chucked - and it was left empty within the hour.
Just the next day, the project benefited from another donation of a commercial fridge from Rotherham business Steelphalt, along with a number of other items such as food, nappies, and toiletries.
Kerry, a mother of two, said she and Joy are planning to start weighing the food so they can measure how much is being saved from the bin.
The 36-year-old said: “We're really trying to educate people that this is not a food bank. This is a take-what-you-can-use because it would go into landfill otherwise.
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Hide Ad“I've volunteered with various food waste companies in the past, and I do a lot with Olio to save their food waste, but to do something that's so community-based, and to do it in your own area and to be responsible for that, it feels amazing.
“It's been a bit of an emotional week, I'll be honest. I think it’s just bringing the community a little bit closer together. It’s really exciting.”
The pair are having to take turns to pick up unsold food from The Co-op after 9pm to stock the fridge for the following morning. They are now applying for funding to secure a container outside The Co-op for staff to drop the food in so it can be sorted for the following morning.
Joy added: “We’re delighted to be taking the unsold food at the Co-op who otherwise would have to have their leftover items taken away and destroyed for a fee.
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Hide Ad“It’s really lovely to see that being diverted into the community because of their kindness and our team of community volunteers.”