Street fridges in Switzerland as a way to reduce food waste
To reduce food waste and protect the environment, a non-profit organisation in Geneva has set up street-side fridges with free food. The products come from restaurants and shops. So homeless people, the elderly, students, anyone who wants something to eat can help themselves.
Mostly vegetables, fruit and sandwiches. They're still good to eat, and instead of going to the garbage, they get to people who need them.
"It's very good, I get strawberries, cherries, it's very good, I like that they're free," says one beneficiary.
Street fridges are also stocked by people who have a surplus of food. Or they go on holiday and want to leave the fridge at home empty.
"I came to bring some tomatoes because I have a lot in my garden, I live nearby, we have a good harvest and I want to give some to others. I like to be helpful."
For now, street fridges are only in Geneva, but more and more Swiss cities are interested in implementing this way of reducing food waste.
"Currently, almost a third of the world's food is thrown away. In Switzerland, almost 2.8 million tonnes of food is thrown away every year. Also, 40% of this comes from households, so with this project we are also trying to appeal directly to households," explains Marine Delevaux, project director.
The fridges empty in about an hour, but no one takes more than is strictly necessary.
