A Swadlincote scheme which helped families in the town waste less food and save more cash has inspired Northern Ireland’s first community fridge.
Launched in late 2015, Waste less, Save more, was launched by supermarket giant Sainsbury's in a bid to help its customers waste less food and save money. Each year, seven million tonnes of food is thrown away, at a cost to families of an estimated £12.5bn.
As part of the trial, which kicked off in January 2016, community spirit was highlighted, with a number of launch events and initiatives which allowed families of all shapes and sizes to reduce their food waste and save cash.
The community fridge was a big part of the project as Sainsbury’s donated its fresh produce to the town's South Derbyshire Community Volunteer Service - to be picked up by local organisations and residents, allowing residents to both donate and receive food.
The community fridge was so successful it redistributed 2,000kg of food in the first six months.
Following on from the success of the scheme, Northern Ireland has unveiled its first sharing fridge in Cloughmills.
Based at The Old Mill in the County Antrim village, it is open to all with businesses and residents able to share extra food or help themselves to food which would otherwise go to waste. Its message is simple - take what you need and leave what you don't need.
Patrick Frew, chairman of Cloughmills Community Action Team, said it was not a food bank.
He said: "It is for everyone. If you are going away on holidays you can bring along some of your food before you go and leave it with us. Rather than it going in the bin or to landfill we give it out to other people.
"There is no referral service; it’s come and see what we have and you can take it home with you.
"If you have got any spare food at home, in date and packaged, we can take it off your hands. Then see what we have that you can take home with you."
