- Ladles of Love’s Feed the Soil programme, which converts food waste into compost for urban farmers, expands to Blue Route Mall starting 4 March, offering a new collection point for residents.
- The initiative, launched in 2021, has diverted 147 tonnes of food waste, created 46.7 tonnes of compost, and supported small-scale farmers with 90 tonnes of fresh produce.
- Blue Route Mall will host the programme every Tuesday, encouraging participation in food waste recycling while supporting local urban farming and food security.
Non-profit organisation (NPO) Ladles of Love in Tokai is expanding its Feed the Soil programme to Blue Route Mall from Tuesday 4 March in a quest to address food waste and soil degradation. The initiative, which repurposes food waste into compost for urban farmers, will now be available to more residents.
“We face enormous challenges when it comes to food waste and soil quality,” said Bronwyn Rabie, spokesperson for the NPO. “A significant amount of organic waste ends up in landfills when it could be used to enrich our soil and support small-scale farmers.”
The programme encourages households and businesses to collect organic waste using Food Waste Kits.
“By making it easy for people to separate their food waste, we’re giving them an opportunity to be part of the solution,” Rabie explained.
The waste is processed into compost and distributed to urban farmers, who use it to grow fresh produce for local markets and hospitality businesses.
Since its 2021 launch, the initiative has diverted 147 tonnes of food waste from landfills, generated 46,7 tonnes of compost, and procured 90 tonnes of fresh produce from small-scale farmers.
Rabie noted the impact of the initiative on urban farming. “By improving soil health, we contribute to better crop nutrition and food security while also offering economic support to urban farmers,” he said. “Many small-scale farmers struggle with access to quality soil, and this initiative is helping to bridge that gap.”
As part of its expansion, Blue Route Mall will host the programme every Tuesday from 09:00 until noon. Participants can drop off food waste at a designated collection point in the parking area off Tokai Road and purchase locally grown produce.
“Blue Route Mall’s central location makes it an ideal place for this initiative, as it allows us to engage with more people,” Rabie added. “The more people who take part, the greater the impact we can achieve together.”
