Yesterday my wife said something to me that made me scratch my head.
She said that on our way to town we had to stop off in Coed Eva and pick up three Portguese custard tarts from a stranger’s house. I couldn’t figure out how this had been set up but as soon as she said ‘the Olio app’ I had a flashback.
A few weeks ago I was at Tasty Not Wasty in Llanyrafon and someone told me how they would pick up items from local supermarkets for free each day and use the app to give them away.
It’s so simple. You register for a free account and can search for freebies in Cwmbran. My wife spotted the custard tarts and claimed them. A few friendly messages were exchanged with the person who was giving them away and the deal was made.
An hour later we were back in the house enjoying a cup of tea and our tasty, free snacks.
How does Olio describe itself?
This is from the About Us page on their website
OLIO connects neighbours with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away. This could be food nearing its sell-by date in local stores, spare home-grown vegetables, bread from your baker, or the groceries in your fridge when you go away. For your convenience, OLIO can also be used for non-food household items, too.
Here at OLIO we believe that small actions can lead to big change. Collectively – one rescued cupcake, carrot or bottle of lotion at a time – we can build a more sustainable future where our most precious resources are shared, not thrown away.
It’s not just food
Olio can be used to give away anything, not just food. And you can put in a request for things you want. I spotted someone is after a shower chair. You can also borrow things. So say your need a drill for a bit of DIY but can’t afford to buy one. Use Olio and borrow one. I love the idea of communities and neighbours helping each other out. Borrowing is a great way to cut waste.
Volunteer for Olio- Become a food waste hero
Click here to find out how to join the team of 65,000 volunteers who collect food from supermarkets and give it away for free on the app.
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