Zero Waste Liverpool will be giving away more free food than ever before this Christmas Eve

Zero Waste Liverpool is preparing to give away more food than ever from supermarkets and restaurants this Christmas Eve, absolutely free, to save it going to landfill.

Zero Waste Liverpool has had its busiest run-up to Christmas this year, collecting and giving out thousands of bags full of everything from fresh fruit and veg to mince pies, cakes, cheeses and even Christmas trees.

Now its gearing up for three huge events on Christmas Eve as supermarkets clear their shelves and donate before they close up for the big day.

Kathryn Bowman, one of the founders of Zero Waste Liverpool, says the volume of food has grown so much they’ve added an extra date in Prescot just to make sure it all goes to a good home.

“We work with over 100 businesses in Liverpool now which includes all the major supermarkets except Morrison’s, so Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Iceland, Co-op, Food Warehouse and M&S.

“But it’s not just supermarkets, we also pick up from Sodexo the Arena and restaurant chains like Frankie & Benny’s, KFC, Nando’s and Pret A Manger, so it’s good that other places in the city are getting to know about us. 

“We probably have about 200 volunteers in the city and we also have events in Wirral, Warrington, St Helens and London Borough of Redbridge.

“On Christmas Eve our volunteers will be out from 8am collecting. We have rotas right through the day because some supermarkets need 2,3 or 4 cars, then we have a big standby team waiting to be directed where to go when we get shout-outs.”

Kathryn stresses that Zero Waste Liverpool events aren’t foodbanks or food pantries, they’re an environmentally-friendly way of preventing food from being dumped.

“It’s not about people needing food, we need people there to take this surplus food and stop it going to waste, so the more that turn up the happier we are!”

The three Christmas Eve events, in L19, Dovecot and Prescot, start at 6.30pm but Kathryn says there’s no need to get there for doors opening.

“People do sometimes think that they need to get there early to get the best stuff but that’s not the case because we have food rolling in throughout the night depending on when the shops shut. 

“We’re there until it’s gone and that’s usually about 9pm which is when the volunteers get to go home and have their own family Christmases.”

Although handling such a large amount of food donations isn’t an easy task, Kathryn says it’s enjoyable for everyone, including young volunteers who’ve helped out through the year at regular weekly events.

“It is hectic but that’s part of the fun and the atmosphere in the halls is amazing,” she adds. “Even the queues are a nice social time and some people do go early especially for that. The volunteers know the regulars and have a chat, and we’ve had lots of gifts and tins of chocolates from people which has been really lovely.”

As for what will be waiting for collection at the events on Christmas Eve, that’s anyone’s guess.

“We’ve no idea exactly what we’re going to get, it can be completely random. 

“We’ll be getting carloads of the fresh fruit and veg, the things that are marked down to 15p now, because the supermarkets don’t want to be left with that after Christmas Eve.

“But the value of the food people can get varies so much, anything from a15p bag of carrots to a boxed M&S Collection beef in wine sauce that should have been £25.”

There’s no need to book for the Christmas Eve events, just turn up with a bag and everything is given out free. 

This year’s are at:  

• All Souls Church, Springwood Ave, L19
• Church of the Holy Spirit, Dovecot 
• Prescot Methodist Centre

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