Volunteer group SG Food Rescue collects excess food; calls out for suggestions on charities to donate to

For those not in the know, food waste makes up about 10 percent of the total waste generated in our country, but only 14 percent of it is recycled. In 2016, we generated a total of 791,000 tonnes of food waste. So in January this year, a ground-up volunteer group called SG Food Rescue was set up with the aim of tackling the food waste problem in Singapore.

Co-founded by Daniel Tay, the man who made headlines last year for his “freegan” way of living and dumpster diving habit in the name of reducing waste, SG Food Rescue makes an effort to save food from being discarded with its Veggie Rescue missions. Basically, the volunteers get unsellable but edible food from vegetable and fruit sellers, and donate them to soup kitchens and charity organizations that feed the needy.

But last Friday, Tay took to Facebook with a unique problem — the group had been receiving more than enough food, and needed suggestions on more beneficiaries to donate the few hundred kilograms of fresh produce that they collect every week.

After Tay’s post made the rounds on social media, he followed up with an update on Sunday explaining that the group would get in touch with some of the suggested organizations soon. But of course, if anyone has any other recommendations, feel free to continue sending them his way.

In the meantime, they conducted their fourth Veggie Rescue mission on Saturday and received several large boxes of veggies and fruits that may not look aesthetically perfect, but are completely edible all the same.

Individuals keen on lending a hand can volunteer to either organize future donations or transport the goods to charity recipients.