This wonderful initiative, Liverpool Zero Waste, was started in South Liverpool by husband and wife David, Kathyrn Bowman, and friend Pam to help save food from going into landfills, which is becoming a huge problem.
They now cover the whole of the city and have a huge and incredible team of volunteers that work together to make a remarkable difference.
What made you set up Liverpool Zero Waste?
We could see the volumes of food that was, potentially, going to waste each day and we wanted to redistribute it back into the community. We aim to normalise using surplus food and being open to anyone and everyone and, at all times, our food is free. In addition, the environmental impact is huge.
How does it work?
We have two types of events – bagged events & open events. You can book one bin bag size bag of food per household per week. We also have open events – you simply turn up to these and fill your bags with saved food. You can come to as many of these as you like each week. As well as our events we also redistribute food to schools, hospitals, food pantries, children’s centres, etc. We have also recently started giving food to Ronald McDonald House.
What challenges do you face?
Our main challenges are having enough volunteers to pick up surplus food from the stores each day. We always need more help with pick ups!
We always need more food. Every day we are turning people down for bags and we run out of food at our open events.
How are you able to deliver these pick ups & events?
Team work and the most amazing team.
What can people do to help?
People can attend our events, share our posts, share how they use our saved food and join our team.
When & where are your events?
DECEMBER 2023
MONDAY
•9.30am-10.30am: Northwood Together, 11 Lifton Rd, L33 5YA. Go along with a bag
•10.30am: Activity For All, Maguire Ave, L20 9PQ. Go along with a bag
•1pm: KFC Mondays. The Church of the Holy Spirit, East Prescot Rd, L14 2EH Go along with a cooler bag.
•10pm: All Souls Church, Springwood Ave, L19 4TX (book Mon from 7am)
TUESDAY
•1pm-2.15pm: Northwood Together, 11 Lifton Rd, L33 5YA. Go along with a bag.
•10pm: St Hildas Church, Hunts Cross, L25 0NG (book Tue from 7am)
WEDNESDAY
•10am-12pm: Warm Hub, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4 Mill Bank, L13 0BN. Go along with a bag.
•10pm: All Souls Church, Springwood Ave, L19 4TX (book Wed from 7am)
THURSDAY
•10pm: St Colombas, Hunts Cross, L25 0NR (book Thur from 7am)
FRIDAY
•11am-12pm: St Colombas, Hunts Cross, L25 0NR. Go along with a bag.
•11am-1pm: Warm Hub, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Payne Close, Warrington, WA5 1DT
•12.30pm: KFC Fridays. The Place To Be, Speke, L24 2TA. Go along with a cooler bag.
•9.30pm: Halles Hub, Ford Lane Community Centre, L21 OHG. Bagged open event, no booking required.
•10pm: St Hildas Church Hall, Hunts Cross, L25 0NH (book Fri from 7am)
SATURDAY
•11am-12pm: St Hildas Church, Hunts Cross, L25 0NH. Go along with a bag.
•11am-12pm: Clockwork Studios, 12 Eccleston St, Prescot, L34 5QE. Go along with a bag.
•10pm: Elm Hall Drive Methodist Church, L18 0NE (book Sat from 7am)
SUNDAY
•12pm-1pm: The Church of the Holy Spirit, East Prescot Rd, L14 2EH Go along with a bag.
•6pm: The Place To Be, Speke, L24 2TA (book Sun from 7am)
•6:15pm-7pm: The Place To Be, Speke, L24 2TA. Go along with a bag
•10pm: The Church of the Holy Spirit, East Prescot Rd, L14 2EH (book Sun from 7am)
????Please only request one bag per household per 7 day period.
Where would you like to be as an organisation this time in 12 months?
We have Zero Waste in Liverpool, Wirral, Prescot, Warrington & St Helen’s and recently we launched in London with Zero Waste Redbridge. We would like to continue with our expansion.
We would like to have more events and more shops & companies on board with us.
In 12 months we would like to have a permanent base/venue. We would like to have salaried staff.
Keep up to date by following their socials @liverpoolzerowaste
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