The problem (nationally)
- Every year retailers in Britain waste 1.6m tonnes of food.
- Most of this goes to landfill, where it releases methane (a harmful greenhouse gas) as it decomposes.
- This in a country where 5% of adults cannot afford fresh fruit daily and one in twenty mothers go without food to meet the needs of their children.
The problem (locally)
- Some areas in Oxford have been identified as being amongst the most deprived areas in the UK.
- Until the Oxford Food Bank began distributing food in July 2009, supermarkets in the city were wasting food everyday.
What we've done so far
- The Oxford Food Bank has set up a daily collection of food from supermarkets and wholesalers.
- We are currently running a daily distribution service to 17 charities and community projects in the city.
- We are helping to provide over 5000 meals per week.
Our vision
- That every piece of food from supermarkets will be used.
- That no edible food from supermarkets will go to landfill sites.
- That Oxford's carbon footprint will be greatly reduced as a result of our work.
- That disadvantaged groups in the city will have access to a healthy diet.
- That every city in the country will have a food bank established.
