About 3,000 tonnes of food waste is discarded in Hong Kong every day. While most of them are still edible, they are sent to landfills. However, in the community, there are over a million elderly or grassroots people who do not have enough food to eat. Excessive leftover food leads to wastage and increases the load in landfills. Since 2009, Food Commons Foundation’s Food Sharing Action has been connecting organizations in different districts establishing a resource network of solving leftover food problem. Up till now, it has already saved over 10,000 tonnes of surplus food that were supposed to be thrown away in landfills. It shared the same weight as 707 double-decker buses. The total number of beneficiaries was close to 10 million people, including the elderly, low-income people or families, children, disadvantaged groups, etc. 

Food Commons Foundation connects multiple merchants and non-profit making organizations. Currently, leftover food collection and sharing work has been implemented in 16 districts in Hong Kong, including Tsuen Wan, Kwai Fong, Yuen Long, Hung Hom, To Kwa Wan, Sheung Wan, Causeway Bay, etc. It is expected to spread to all 18 districts in Hong Kong promoting a cherishing food culture and at the same time reducing food waste and sharing resources with those in need.    

To enhance environmental protection awareness of residents in the community, the Foundation organizes educational activities in different districts. For example, Food Commons @ NT and ECF Food Commons @ Shatin carry out monthly market food recycling for better use of social resources and enhancement of environmental protection awareness of the public. The Foundation says Food Commons has a total of 156 registered volunteers across different districts, but some districts are still in a situation where they cannot carry out the action smoothly due to a lack of manpower. Therefore, the Foundation calls on people from all walks of life to join and register as volunteers for Food Commons, collecting and sharing leftover food as well as reducing food waste and helping others.  

Original article: https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20230922/bkn-20230922040001697-0922_00822_001.html