First food recycling bin introduced to help the needy and reduce food wastage

Food recycling bin called the Bank Box to collect unwanted and unexpired packaged food at City Square Mall. -- PHOTO: THE FOOD BANK SINGAPORE
Food recycling bin called the Bank Box to collect unwanted and unexpired packaged food at City Square Mall. -- PHOTO: THE FOOD BANK SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE - The next time you go to City Square Mall, you might want to bring along unexpired packaged food that you do not want anymore.

The Food Bank Singapore, a non-profit organisation, has set up a food recycling bin called the Bank Box to collect unwanted and unexpired packaged food at the mall on Kitchener Road. City Square Mall is connected to Farrer Park MRT Station.

In a statement, the food bank's co-founder Nicholas Ng said that food collected in the "Bank Box" can be redistributed to feed the needy.

"It's also a way for companies and individuals to do their part to reduce food wastage and put their excess food to good use," he added.

The organisation is hoping to introduce more of these food bins in other shopping centres, as well as smaller ones in homes and offices.

The launch was held in conjunction with the opening of art exhibition Project X-pired, which aims to raise the awareness of food wastage in Singapore.

Held in collaboration with the Edible Art Movement, the exhibition at City Square Mall converts expired food into art pieces. The exhibition, which runs till Sunday, also allows the public to participate and create food art in exchange for donations.

yeosamjo@sph.com.sg

leepearl@sph.com.sg

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