Dottie’s Community Fridge: Reducing Food Waste and Strengthening Our Community

At the Dorothy Parkes Centre, Dottie’s Community Fridge is doing far more than redistributing surplus food — it is helping local people, reducing waste, building confidence, and bringing the community together.

Since launching in January 2025, the project has gone from strength to strength, providing a welcoming space where good food is shared instead of thrown away. Thanks to the generosity of our partners, volunteers, and local residents, Dottie’s Community Fridge has become a vital community resource with a growing and measurable impact.

Making a Real Difference

Between January 2025 and April 2026:

  • 4,375 visits were made to the Community Fridge
  • 8.49 tonnes of food were redistributed back into the community
  • 213 litres of juice and milk were shared with local people and families

To put this into perspective, 8.49 tonnes is roughly the same as:

  • Around 1.5 adult African elephants
  • More than 8,000 bags of sugar
  • Approximately 17 grand pianos

Every loaf of bread, carton of milk, box of vegetables, and packet of food saved from landfill helps reduce waste while supporting people through rising living costs.

Supporting the Environment

Dottie’s Community Fridge is not only helping people — it is also helping the planet.

Since opening, the project has prevented an estimated 21 tonnes of CO₂ emissions from entering the atmosphere. That is equivalent to:

  • Driving more than 52,000 miles in a typical petrol car
  • The annual electricity use of around 8 average UK homes
  • Planting approximately 950 trees and growing them for 10 years

Food waste has a significant environmental impact. When food ends up in landfill, it releases methane — a greenhouse gas far more harmful than carbon dioxide. By redistributing surplus food, we are helping to:

  • Reduce landfill waste
  • Lower carbon emissions
  • Make better use of food already produced
  • Support a more sustainable local community

Every visit, donation and volunteer hour is contributing to a greener future.

Looking Ahead

Dottie’s Community Fridge continues to grow, and we are always looking to build new partnerships with businesses, organisations and individuals who can support us with food donations or funding.

By working together, we can continue to:

  • Reduce food waste
  • Support local residents
  • Create a healthier, more connected community

If you would like to support Dottie’s Community Fridge, we would love to hear from you.

Together, we can make sure good food feeds people, not landfill.

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