Fighting Food Poverty With Neighborhood Fridges

Impact Hub Brixton, along with London residents and food waste activists introduced a communal fridge that hates waste and serves as shelter for surplus or unwanted food.

The so-called People’s Fridge made its very first appearance in London last week during the launching party in its new home at Pop Brixton. The crowdfunding project managed to raise twice the targeted amount with which it will set up other similar fridges throughout Lambeth and offer support to those who want to do it throughout London.

The People’s Fridge is open seven days a week. Regular updates on what’s still inside can be found on the initiative’s Twitter page:

Fruit, baby food, Coca-Cola, vegetables, almond milk. All available for free in @PeoplesFridge. Find us at the back of @PopBrixton. pic.twitter.com/gD6PZYzvTl

— The People's Fridge (@PeoplesFridge) February 13, 2017

Food poverty is a big issue in cities like London. Small and local scale innovative solutions to tackle food waste are met with enthusiasm and, on the receiving end, offer nutritious options for those who sometimes cannot afford them. Cutting food waste with the help of the sharing economy is not something new as other so called community fridges have been successful in Germany, Spain, New Zealand.

Photo: Sebastian Wood

Maintenance along with circulation of food, and making sure it’s fresh will be done by local volunteers who will ensure Freddie is a secure alternative to to throwing away unwanted food. People who own food businesses, market traders, and locals have hopped on board and are keeping the fridge stocked.

For those who shed a tear whenever something ends up in the garbage, this project will make you more conscious of expiration dates and more aware that there is a reliable place where unwanted food can go before it dies. About 60% of the total edible unopened or half opened food that could have been spared goes to waste each year in households. Supermarket fruit that does not pass cosmetic standards often ends up in the bin, as well. Knowing that such a fridge exists will encourage people to join the initiative towards more sustainable living.