Zero Food Waste UCL have recently constructed a “community fridge” model, an idea not endorsed by the Students’ Union.
In December, ZFW passed a “zero edible food waste policy” at the Union Executive, which mandates the implementation of a “reliable method for redistributing surplus food".
ZFW suggests that a community fridge would fulfil this requirement.
ZFW claim that they have faced clear communication issues with the Union, telling The Cheese Grater that the Union has a "disinterest in solving issues around” the fridge.
They argue that this results in a lack of action from the Union despite funding being provided by the charity Hubbub.
The fridge is seen as crucial by ZFW, who find the current model "unsustainable". The new model would see all edible food waste end up in a fridge available for all students akin to a free "Too Good to Go".
All food waste at UCL Bloomsbury is handled by ZFW, leading to an overwhelming workload and desire for a new system.
At present, ZFW distributes waste to local charities. Their new proposed model would be less demanding and student-focused.
The Union has flagged the hygiene challenges that might come with the fridge’s introduction.
ZFW claim that the power imbalance between their organisation and the Union makes them feel that “decisions [are] made for us” per a representative.
The student-run project is adamant that the community fridge is the “solution to all…problems” and that they could run the fridge well.
“Zero edible food waste” policy
Last December, ZFW passed a “zero edible food waste policy” at the Union Executive.
The proposal was pushed back on by Union President Anam Choudhary who took issue with the policy’s accountability measures, like being asked to send minutes to the ZFW within 48 hours.
Choudhary claimed,“the proposal is not workable at present… it should be deferred back to the Zone.” Although she later claimed that she supports the policy in principle.
A vote, however, failed to send the policy back to Zone and it was later passed unanimously, though it is likely that some sabbatical officers abstained from voting.
The Cheese Grater understands that Equity and Inclusion Officer Eda Yildirimkaya voted to pass the policy.
Legal issues and little data
Other challenges with the Union persist. Firstly, food being thrown away into the general waste bin, as images taken by ZFW and seen by The Cheese Grater verify.
Such dumping is being combated by new laws introduced in England that mandate that food waste must be collected weekly and free of charge, with an outside and inside food waste bin being supplied to every household.
UCL café staff also do not report daily food surpluses “regularly or properly”, according to a ZFW representative, complicating collection for the undermanned ZFW. There has been a reduction in overall surplus due to more accurate ordering, however.
By contrast, ZFW speaks highly of UCL food's other partner, Gather & Gather, which reports its daily surpluses clearly. It has also enacted policy changes such as allowing employees to bring home food waste and ensuring catered food waste can also be donated.
A lack of volunteers
The final key issue facing ZFW is a "substantial reduction in volunteers”, the representative further claimed.
ZFW suggests scattered freshers events have hurt recruitment numbers. Yet they confess they are unsure of the reason for the total reduction.
The reduction has led to a self-calculated 40% recovery rate this academic year as compared to 90% in term one of 2023.
This volunteer structure also means collection dips when most students are busy such as exam periods or weekends.
In fact, there has not “been a week [where they] covered all cafés”. ZFW believes that a community fridge would account for this manpower issue as it requires less volunteers.
Next steps and future developments
A statement from ZFW to The Cheese Grater outlines future developments and the current relationship between the Union and ZFW.
The Union has “acknowledged the legal ramifications” of its dumping. Union resistance to the community fridge was also chalked up to “misunderstandings” on its part.
Finally, due to assumed communication challenges (an “arduous journey”), it was decided that the Union [resident should “bridge…communication”. ZFW concluded the statement by once again stating that the community fridge is the premier solution to food waste at UCL.
Another major development is the shifting of responsibilities to the Students’ Union from ZFW.
The newly passed policy menas food redistribution is now a “formal operational responsibility of the Union”.
The responsibility is therefore now with SU staff. It goes on to state that it must be ensured that the “process is transparent, fair and sustainable”.
A Union spokesperson said:
“We’re preparing to launch a community fridge in the near future in line with current Union policy. This must be done carefully and with the health of safety of those using the fridge as a first priority.
“We make every effort to reduce food waste and reduce our carbon emissions across our services, including changing suppliers, removing all plastic from our cafes, and adding carbon labelling to our menus to help students make environmentally informed choices.
“Our recent introduction of heavily discounted end of day food has significantly reduced our food waste across our outlets.”