Y Waste is an initiative we need now more than ever. At a time when a huge number of Australians are facing hardship due to the world’s ongoing pandemic crisis, Y Waste bridges the gap between food waste and the nation’s hungry. Y Waste is an environmental social enterprise, which redistributes vendors’ excess food by offering it to Australians who may otherwise struggle to feed their families.
Food waste is a huge problem in Australia. According to Food Bank, 7.3 million tonnes of food is lost or wasted every year. While a large proportion of this food is still perfectly edible, around 5 million Australians are going hungry. Additionally, the country’s unemployment rate climbed to 7.4% in June meaning thousands more Australians face an uncertain future.
“We’ve distributed almost 20,000 meals over the last 2 ½ months. We’ve bought something new to the industry, although It took a pandemic to prove it” said Ian Price, the co-founder of Y Waste.
We’ve delved deeper into this ground breaking social enterprise by asking Ian to further explain how Y Waste works.
Hi Ian, could you explain what Y Waste is and why it was set up?
Y Waste was initially set up as an app where food retailers could post and sell their unsold food at the end of the day rather than throw it away. The main goal was to target food waste in the fast food service industry.
Y Waste is an electronic tool for vendors such as those in food courts. Such merchants often sell off their unsold food at the end of each day for discounted prices. The problem is, only people who physically walk past the venue can take advantage of these offers. Additionally, customers wouldn’t want to travel and take a gamble to see what food might be available to buy at the end of the day.
Y Waste attracts more people into the outlets to buy their excess food. On the app, one buys a specific portion and picks-up from the vendor at a designated pick-up time. The user pays for their meal via the app, and the outlet’s leftover food does not go to waste. Listed food will be heavily discounted, typically sold at 80-90% off, sometimes even given away for free.
How has Y Waste changed?
When we approached the merchants, many wanted to donate their excess food to those in need. However, charities are faced with limitations when accepting food. For example, many restaurants will not know the quantities of food they have left until after 5pm. Charities are limited by the number of volunteers available in the evenings, which means food would need to be picked up the following day. This is not ideal for hot foods or fresh seafood for example, which won’t keep for long.
After conducting my own research, I found that only 18% of food from fast food vendors is rescued or donated. I developed the app so it can be used as a parallel platform, working as a donation feature alongside its selling functionality.
Tell us about your partnership with Food Bank and how food reaches those who need it most?
We partner with Food Bank Australia, being the largest organisation of its kind. Food Bank works with approximately 3,000 charities and represents almost 70% of charities in Australia.
Those who are registered with a local charity are provided with a code they can use on the Y Waste app to claim one free meal per person per household. This charity code is entered when user is prompted to pay.
When we decided to work with a charity, we wanted transparency to show merchants that people in need are accessing excess food. I like to call Y Waste a management and distribution platform because we can track the meals that are donated vs paid for.
How long has Y Waste been running for?
2 ½ years now and the donation aspect of the app has been in place for just over one year.
Is Y Waste an Australian-wide initiative?
Yes, Y Waste is available throughout Australia, in all states and territories. We work with approximately 720 merchants with most food outlets located in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Around 400 are donating excess food.
Have you noticed an increase in the use of the app when COVID-19 hit?
Absolutely. We’ve distributed almost 20,000 meals over the last 2 ½ months. As well as many casual workers who have lost their jobs, we have been working with universities because there are many international students who are in need right now.
There are those who will need help for the rest of their lives, however we have found that there are many who require assistance temporarily, who may need a little help get back on their feet.
Y Waste helps to retain dignity amongst those who need assistance, because the app allows users to remain anonymous. When a user chooses a meal, the merchant will not know if the individual collecting has paid for the food or used a charity code. We are helping thousands of Australians around the country by giving them access to free or affordable meals.
What has the COVID-19 crisis taught you?
The pandemic has taught us that the donation industry needs to change. Previously, food donations were reliant on the assistance of volunteers. During lockdowns, many of these services had to cease because volunteers, particularly the older generation, had to stay home.
We are a contactless service as we skip the middle person. Vendors communicate with people directly through the app. We have also added a delivery service consisting of volunteer drivers who bring food to people who are unable to leave their homes.
What is your biggest challenge with Y Waste now?
Our biggest challenge is reaching out to new merchants. Once food outlets are aware of our platform, they are happy to sign up and contribute back to the community. However, many outlets do not use social media platforms and are not aware of us yet.
What is your message to food vendors who would like to sign up to Y Waste?
There is no cost for merchants to come on board. If you sell food on the app there is a small transaction fee, otherwise if you donate your food, there is no fee.
Additionally, there is no need to source more food to sign up with Y Waste. You are only selling or donating food that may otherwise go to waste.
Pickup times are set by the merchant and varies from food outlet to food outlet. It is up to you to decide when you would like your food collected.
Y Waste is available to anyone in the food industry who hates to throw food away. This is an opportunity to sell or donate your leftover food.
Y Waste is available in Australia, Singapore and Indonesia and will launch soon in Columbia. Sign up now by going to ywasteapp.com