A low-carbon redistribution service to tackle food waste and share surpluses is expanding to Southwark in partnership with the Mayor of London, Albrighton Community Centre and Southwark Council.

Environmental charity Hubbub’s Food Connect initiative will use an electric van and e-bikes to tackle the ‘final mile’ challenge of helping retailers to reduce their food waste by ensuring surplus good food is quickly and efficiently shared with the residents in the area rather than being thrown away.

The surplus food will be redistributed via the Camberwell Community Fridge operated by the Albrighton Community Centre. It is estimated that over 300,000 meals’ worth of food could be shared annually thanks to the new initiative.

The launch of the low carbon redistribution service in Southwark follows the success of the initiative in Milton Keynes, where in its first year it saved 240 tonnes of good food from waste.

Helen Innes, project co-ordinator for Food Connect said: “We are thrilled to be rolling out Food Connect to Southwark, creating green jobs and working with Albrighton Community Centre and establish a more reliable and varied supply of healthy food to the local community. The low carbon fleet will not only help reduce carbon emission, but it will also reduce the pressure on the volunteers who would be making journeys by foot, taxi or car to pick up the surplus food.”

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