Food Waste Heroes

Volunteer as a Food Waste Hero

There are over 25,000 amazing OLIO volunteers collecting surplus food all over the UK. New businesses and stores being added every day. You can join to find local collection slots today!

What is a Food Waste Hero (FWH)?

An OLIOer who picks up unsold surplus food from businesses to save it from going to waste! Each FWH is part of a Squad of volunteers who collect surplus food from local businesses, bring it home, list it on the OLIO app, and redistribute the food to their neighbours, who pick up the food. Over 50% of items on OLIO get picked up within 30 minutes!

As a FWH we would match you with your local street food market, farmers’ market, shop, café, bakery, deli, green grocer, hotel or restaurant – who absolutely love the programme! Once matched, you would collect any unsold surplus food on your collection day(s) and then use OLIO to share the rescued food within your local community. We’ll also put you in an OLIO chat group with other local FWHs so you can all work together collectively, share success stories, and cheer each other on.

Why become a FWH?

Food waste is one of the largest problems we face today. Taking action on this issue is said to be the most impactful solution to our environmental problems. FWHs enjoy the thrill of tangibly rescuing food that would have otherwise been thrown away, helping local businesses become zero-food-waste! Also, sharing with neighbours is awesome. Providing food, often to neighbours in need, and socialising at the same time can be the highlight of the week. 

The camaraderie of joining a FWH squad, and the joy of handing over delicious food to their neighbours is an amazing feeling you can enjoy whilst meeting your neighbours far and wide!

How to become a Food Waste Hero?

Becoming a Food Waste Hero is very easy. Click the button below, and you will get access to the Volunteer Hub, log in using your normal OLIO log ins, and you will be able to see food collection slots in your local area. You’ll be prompted to run through a series of training videos, offering you important insight into the logistics and health and safety of this exciting volunteer role. Then check local slots available near you, and claim your first slot! 🥳

What if there are no participating businesses near me?

If there are no collections in your neighbourhood you can become a Squad Starter, and begin your own group with a local business of your choice!

Here are some stores and businesses our Food Waste Heroes collect surplus food from.

Last year, FWHs:

saved
5.2 million kg
of food

or
12 million 
meals

had nearly
5 million
neighbour-to-neighbour
meetings and shares

equivalent to
76 million car miles
taken off the roads