Community fridge launched at Sheffield primary school in effort to tackle food waste

Food that was destined for the bin is now being offered for free to those living in a Sheffield suburb after a new community fridge was launched to tackle waste.
By Alana Roberts
Published 9th Mar 2020, 17:00 BST
Updated 10th Mar 2020, 15:28 BST
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Arbourthorne Community Primary School officially launched the community’s first-ever Community Fridge with the support of the environmental charity, Hubbub UK, on Friday, March 6.

It is stocked with food that otherwise would have been thrown away which is donated weekly by supermarkets including Aldi, Tesco, and Co-op, alongside Fareshare Yorkshire which provides two deliveries a week – one funded by Arbourthorne Primary and another funded by the ‘An Even Better Arbourthorne’ project.

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Volunteers at Arbourthorne Primary School's Community Fridge get ready to hand out food to local residents from their facility in the school groundsVolunteers at Arbourthorne Primary School's Community Fridge get ready to hand out food to local residents from their facility in the school grounds
Volunteers at Arbourthorne Primary School's Community Fridge get ready to hand out food to local residents from their facility in the school grounds
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Open two days a week, the fridge is available to anyone and houses a selection of food including yoghurts, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Vanessa Langley, executive headteacher of Arbourthorne Primary, said: ''The community fridge has become a hive of activity in the school. A team of nine parent volunteers and our Better Arbourthorne leaders work tirelessly to help people in our community, collecting and labelling food for distribution. Come rain or shine they have committed to redistributing food each week and saving it from landfill.

“Their significant efforts are to be applauded and their warm welcome and fair distribution ensure no one goes home empty-handed. I am very proud of our parents for this commitment to our community and our environmental efforts as a school.''

The average UK household throws away nearly £400 worth of food every year, according to a study by the savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk.

Volunteers at Arbourthorne Primary School's Community Fridge get ready to hand out food to local residents from their facility in the school grounds. Sonia and Heather stock up with loaves of breadVolunteers at Arbourthorne Primary School's Community Fridge get ready to hand out food to local residents from their facility in the school grounds. Sonia and Heather stock up with loaves of bread
Volunteers at Arbourthorne Primary School's Community Fridge get ready to hand out food to local residents from their facility in the school grounds. Sonia and Heather stock up with loaves of bread
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The Abourthorne Primary Community Fridge is the third to launch in Sheffield, alongside two at the University of Sheffield – one in The Edge cafe in Endcliffe and a second at The Ridge in the Ranmoor student village.

Since the concept of Community Fridges first arrived in the UK in 2016, the number has grown with over 80 projects currently running across the country with the support of Hubbub UK.

Those behind Arbourthorne Community Fridge are now asking restaurants, shops, and allotment holders in Sheffield to donate any surplus food to the cause.

The fridge is open every Tuesday and Friday between 3pm and 3:30pm. To keep up to date follow @AArbourthorne on Twitter.

Related topics:SheffieldTesco