Due to commercial operations, leftover food that is still safe to eat in the food supply industry is turned into garbage and thrown into landfills every day. The government will implement Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Charging in April next year. We very much hope that all merchants will arrange food donations as soon as possible to reduce the garbage levy and help those in need. In the past year from December 2022 to November 2023, Food Commons and its regional partners recycled 544,541.88 kgs of food and distributed 537,188.57 kgs, reaching 98.65%; The number of beneficiaries was 569,287. From June 2009 to November 2023, a total of 10,835,562.34 kgs of food were recycled, and the total distribution volume was 10,308,088.41 kgs, accounting for 95.13%; The number of beneficiaries was 9,372,314.  

After the epidemic, there has been a recent surge in the number of consumers going to the mainland. People's willingness to stay and spend in Hong Kong has been low. Also, with the reduction in market purchases, vendors' turnover has generally declined, and it is reflected by the relative decrease in the amount of recycled leftovers as well. Moreover, the increase in market operating costs and pressure in the face of rent increases lead to unstable market and bread recycling volume. However, the community has resumed daily operations, and donations of expiring food are received from enthusiastic individuals and neighbours from time to time. This also reflects the public's awareness of food conservation and reducing food waste.  

Starting from August, Action Health joined Food Commons @ NT to save food and help people. They carried out recycling and sharing activities at four markets in Fanling and Sheung Shui and the North District Temporary Wholesale Market for Agricultural Products and implemented food cherishing and waste reduction activities. Educational activities included holding food-wise and waste-reduction lectures for 80 elderly people and setting up a food-wise and waste-reduction booth exhibition and the total number of visits was 300; Also, secondary school students were allowed to participate in food-wise volunteer action to collect and distribute leftover food putting the concept of cherishing food and helping others into practice.  

The regional teams of Food Commons @ NT (Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai) and Food Commons @ NT (Tsuen Wan, Kwai Fong and Tsing Yi) also continue to recycle and share food. At the same time, the market recycling experience education activities organized by Tin Shui Wai Community Development Network has been carried out. All participants thought that the recycling activities were very meaningful. During the process, citizens assisted the recyclers in collecting leftovers. They practiced and understood the recyclers' work. They thought that the recyclers' work was not easy and it was meaningful to distribute the leftovers to families in need. In Tsuen Kwai Tsing, the local partner Women Service Association’s parent-child market recycling experience activity led parents and children to the market to experience the work of food recyclers. Participants were very active in helping the recyclers to collect food. Participants said they had not noticed that the market had an organization to recycle food, and stall owners were generous and proactive in donating good-looking food. Through personal experience, everyone had a clearer understanding of the food collection and sharing action and hoped to spread the concept of cherishing food and helping others to more members in the neighbourhood.  

In Sha Tin District, with funding from the Environment and Conservation Fund, ECF Food Commons @ Shatin project will be extended for two years starting from August. Food Commons Foundation and its regional partner Sha Tin Women's Association will continue to save food and reduce waste in the community and help neighbours in need. In the past year, Food Commons together with regional partners and volunteer teams, carried out projects such as ECF Food Commons @ Shatin, Food Commons @ NT and Food Commons in 17 districts including Tsuen Wan, Kwai Fong, Tsing Yi, Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long, Fanling, Sheung Shui, Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Ma On Shan, Fo Tan, Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O, To Kwa Wan, Hung Hom, Sheung Wan and Causeway Bay. Various food materials that are about to be discarded but still safe to eat due to commercial operations can be recycled. The food types are mainly fruits and vegetables. Others include packaged food, fruits, milk, beans, rice grains, canned food, bread, etc. The beneficiaries are mainly the elderly, but also include low-income families, CSSA recipients, elderly people living alone, general families, single-parent families, people with disabilities, etc. Food Commons volunteer team collects excess bread and meal boxes from the neighbourhood and shares them with cleaners, grannies scavenging paper, the homeless, the elderly, members in the neighbourhood, etc., cherishing food and helping others. A monthly donation of HK$300 can help a beneficiary with basic food for a month. Please support our food rescue work to continue!