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Original poster

Food waste

21 replies

NotMyCat · 04/09/2021 00:57

So I went tonight to get a bag from the too good to go app, and was waiting in the queue. A staff member was taking the sandwiches off the shelves and shoving them all in a bin bag, around 50 at least
Was slightly stunned as I know food waste exists bit just seeing that made me a bit.. saddened maybe
I listed some of the food I got on Olio and a homeless guy has walked an hour to collect it from me and the discrepancy between the guy binning food and seeing someone walk an hour for a drink and a sausage roll...

It just made me think, what can I actually DO? I mean they could have listed more bags on the app, given the food away, sold them for 10p, I would have happily taken them to our fire station who would demolish them!
I've emailed the shop asking if that is usual, and if so can I help in some way to cut down the waste

OP posts:
KintsugiCat · 04/09/2021 02:41

Was it because they were going out of date or was it something like the chiller had broken and they hadn’t been stored correctly.

Last time I worked in a cafe we had to do regular temperature checks on all chilled food and if it went above a certain temperature everything had to be binned.

Original poster
NotMyCat · 04/09/2021 11:23

@KintsugiCat

Was it because they were going out of date or was it something like the chiller had broken and they hadn’t been stored correctly.

Last time I worked in a cafe we had to do regular temperature checks on all chilled food and if it went above a certain temperature everything had to be binned.

End of the day so going out of date, it was about 7.30pm
OP posts:
Sparklfairy · 04/09/2021 11:27

It sounds like they need an arrangement with Olio! Our local tesco express and pret both have people that collect food that would otherwise be binned, and it's gone in minutes.

KintsugiCat · 04/09/2021 13:28

And did you check with them that they were definitely going in the bin?

I used to volunteer at a soup kitchen and local supermarkets used to give us food going out of date that day to hand out.

Original poster
NotMyCat · 04/09/2021 13:30

@KintsugiCat

And did you check with them that they were definitely going in the bin?

I used to volunteer at a soup kitchen and local supermarkets used to give us food going out of date that day to hand out.

I've sent an email, if it wasn't going in the bin then I would be shocked - they were launching it into the bag and squashing it down
OP posts:
Sparklfairy · 04/09/2021 13:42

Have you thought about becoming an Olio volunteer @NotMyCat? I think they're called 'champions'. I've thought about it but I work nights so couldn't coordinate the late pick ups for the food (often past 1030pm here).

I live in a city with lots of small cafes/shops with fresh food and I'm so disappointed that more aren't aware or utilising something like Olio.

TooGood2Go is shocking here, there's never anything although some places are listed.

Papergirl1968 · 04/09/2021 13:48

Good for you for challenging this, NotMyCat. I hate to see food waste.
Did the homeless man come to your home to collect it though? I know this sounds awful but I’d be worried about that.

Original poster
NotMyCat · 04/09/2021 13:52

@Papergirl1968

Good for you for challenging this, NotMyCat. I hate to see food waste. Did the homeless man come to your home to collect it though? I know this sounds awful but I’d be worried about that.
I'm in an apartment block so was able to leave it outside the door for him, and I ran an extension lead out as he needed phone charge He has a dog so couldn't go to McDonald's to charge and having the phone means he can use stuff like olio
Food waste
OP posts:
Hopdathelf · 04/09/2021 13:52

Did the homeless man come to your home to collect it though? I know this sounds awful but I’d be worried about that.

That’s appalling. You wouldn’t think twice about the OP having someone to her address for a Freecycle or Facebook Marketplace transaction.

Original poster
NotMyCat · 04/09/2021 13:53

@Sparklfairy

Have you thought about becoming an Olio volunteer *@NotMyCat*? I think they're called 'champions'. I've thought about it but I work nights so couldn't coordinate the late pick ups for the food (often past 1030pm here).

I live in a city with lots of small cafes/shops with fresh food and I'm so disappointed that more aren't aware or utilising something like Olio.

TooGood2Go is shocking here, there's never anything although some places are listed.

I will have a look, I've only just joined so didn't realise this existed! I don't have much money but I have time and experience in customer service/emergency services/food hygiene etc and I'm free evenings so if I can find something I want to help

It was just such a juxtaposition between seeing this food casually squashed and then someone desperate for a drink

OP posts:
Sparklfairy · 04/09/2021 14:02

Really awful, the homeless man touched me Sad I saw a programme before I'd heard of Olio that some branches Pret a Manger had arrangements with homeless shelters to take all of their leftover food, which I thought was genius. As my local branch ends up on Olio I guess they don't do this though.

AFAIK you just arrange to collect the food at closing time that would otherwise be thrown away, list it yourself and people arrange to collect it that evening. Pret stuff gets listed once a week here, and Tesco 2 or 3 times a week, so I think it's a case of them fitting in with you rather than the other way around as they must have waste every day.

Sparklfairy · 04/09/2021 14:04

@Papergirl1968 you need to check that prejudice. If someone was going to be a criminal they'd probably have managed to keep themselves afloat enough through dodgy dealings that they weren't homeless Hmm

Papergirl1968 · 04/09/2021 14:15

Look, I know some people are homeless through no fault of their own. I also know some are alcoholics and drug addicts.
I’m a single woman and I believe the Op is too, as I know her from other threads, so I was just querying safety.
Anyway, good for you, NotMyCat.

bamboocat · 04/09/2021 14:22

I saw the staff in my Tesco local doing that the other day. Loads of stuff all put into massive bags.

I said to the chap that it was an awful waste, and it would be better to give it away instead of chucking it. He said no, they weren't throwing it out, it was all being collected by a charity for the homeless who would be there any minute. They collect every evening apparently.

Original poster
NotMyCat · 04/09/2021 14:27

@bamboocat

I saw the staff in my Tesco local doing that the other day. Loads of stuff all put into massive bags.

I said to the chap that it was an awful waste, and it would be better to give it away instead of chucking it. He said no, they weren't throwing it out, it was all being collected by a charity for the homeless who would be there any minute. They collect every evening apparently.

Yeah that's kind of what I wanted to find out But the guy was.. like when the bag is full and you squash it all down with your hand? So everything would have been ruined I've signed up to the olio food waste hero and asked my friend who works for a homeless charity what I can do to help
OP posts:
Original poster
NotMyCat · 04/09/2021 14:28

This is what I got from the too good to go app for £2.59 (I gave away the sausage rolls and yum yums and grapes and sandwich)

Food waste
OP posts:
Papergirl1968 · 04/09/2021 16:00

That was from Tesco? That’s really good. I’m broke at the moment so have thought about it, but I’m a fussy eater so I prefer to hit the supermarkets just before closing time when stuff is marked down and choose my own. I got a few bagels and rolls the other day for 19p per pack from Morrison’s.

Original poster
NotMyCat · 04/09/2021 18:21

@Papergirl1968

That was from Tesco? That’s really good. I’m broke at the moment so have thought about it, but I’m a fussy eater so I prefer to hit the supermarkets just before closing time when stuff is marked down and choose my own. I got a few bagels and rolls the other day for 19p per pack from Morrison’s.
Greggs Smile
OP posts:
Papergirl1968 · 05/09/2021 11:41

Ahh, thanks. We have a small Greggs in my town so I will investigate!

Original poster
NotMyCat · 09/09/2021 20:00

@Fishocado I emailed them and they said they donate but then I see this.. so it's not just me that has noticed and this is a different shop

Food waste
OP posts:
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