The Community Fridge, Frome
Enjoy our Frome fridges at:
📍 The Loop de Loop in Frome Town Centre
Open 9am to 5pm daily
📍 Behind the Town Hall (access from Park Rd)
Open 8am to 7pm daily
The fridge is open to all: its mission is to make Frome a waste free town.
Your support makes the Community Fridge Frome possible
Consider a small donation to help the project fight food waste, and make surplus food free and accessible for everyone
About Us
The Frome Community Fridge was the very first of its kind in the UK. It began in 2015 as part of an Edventure Frome start-up course, in collaboration with Frome Town Council, where local people came together to turn bold ideas into real community projects.
Today, the fridge is run by a dedicated team of volunteers, led by manager Terri Pitts. Every day, the team collects surplus food from local shops, supermarkets, growers, making it freely available for everyone in the community to share.
Support the Community Fridge
Your support helps us sustain and grow the Community Fridge, Frome.
Your donations help to:
– Keep the project alive and cover costs
– Fund training so we can increase our volunteer network, get more food in the fridge and save more food from waste
– Grow our impact with new community fridge projects (new locations, helping others setup fridges)
The Climate Emergency and Frome’s Zero Waste Movement
The Frome Community Fridge is a practical, grassroots solution to this global challenge. By redistributing surplus food, we:
- Cut carbon emissions – every item shared instead of binned reduces the environmental impact of wasted food. We have saved over 2522 tonnes of CO2 in the last 7 years – equivalent to 546, 250 meals!
- Keep resources in use – preventing waste is one of the most effective ways of moving towards a circular economy.
- Build community resilience – by sharing resources, we strengthen local connections and ensure food reaches people, not landfill.
- Inspire wider change – our fridge was the first in the UK, and has helped inspire hundreds of similar initiatives nationwide.
The fridge sits alongside other community-led efforts in Frome — from composting and repair cafés to reuse stores and local growing projects — forming part of a bigger movement for a fairer, greener future. By using the fridge, volunteering, or donating, you are directly contributing to Frome’s journey towards zero waste and climate action.
That’s good food on plates, not in bins.
The success of Frome’s fridge has inspired a national movement. More than 700 community fridges have since opened across the country through Hubbub’s Community Fridge Network. Along the way, the fridge has even appeared on Jamie and Jimmy’s Saturday Night Food Feast (2017) Countryfile (2019) and Escape to the Country (2021), putting Frome firmly on the map as a pioneer in tackling food waste.
Your support helps us to sustain and grow this much-loved community project; reducing waste, cutting emissions, and building a stronger, more resilient Frome.
Why give away free food to everyone?
Food waste is one of the hidden drivers of the climate emergency.
Globally, it accounts for 8 to 10% of human caused greenhouse gas emissions. That is more than the entire aviation industry. When food is thrown away, it breaks down and releases methane and carbon dioxide. Every year, that adds up to around 70 million tonnes of methane.
In the UK, we waste around 5 million tonnes of edible food each year. In high-income countries, up to a third of food is thrown away by consumers. All the land, water, and energy that went into producing it is wasted too.
Research led by Frome Town Council in 2019 showed the real impact community fridges can have. That work is now used nationally to evidence the value of food redistribution.
On average, a community fridge redistributes 500kg of food each month. That saves the equivalent of 2.1 tonnes of CO₂. The busiest fridges redistribute up to 4 tonnes a month, preventing nearly 17 tonnes of CO₂. Over a year, an average fridge avoids more than 25 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Frome Community Fridge plays its part in that bigger picture.
By making surplus food available to everyone, it means less waste, fewer emissions and more food on plates instead of in bins.
Sometimes it is the small things. Spotting a pineapple you have not had in ages. Picking up fresh bread at the end of the day. Sharing something good with a neighbour.
If you have not visited yet, you are welcome. Take what you need. Save what you can.
Support us
Donate to keep surplus food free and accessible for everyone
Open to everyone, the Community Fridge reduces food waste by redistributing good surplus food so it reaches people, not bins. Regular monthly donations make the biggest difference, but every gift helps, thank you.
1 Choose an amount
2 Pick your donation type
Monthly donations help us plan ahead and keep the fridge open all year.
3 Confirm your gift
If you would like to donate a larger amount, thank you. Please email hello@edventurefrome.org and we will help you make your gift.
Why your gift matters
FAQs
Who is the fridge for?
Everyone! The Community Fridge Frome is open to all. Its mission is to reduce food waste by redistributing surplus food that would otherwise go to landfill. By using the fridge, you are helping the environment, supporting a culture of sharing, and making good food accessible to the community.
What is the Community Fridge Frome?
The Community Fridge Frome was the first of its kind in the UK, launched in 2015. It is part of a growing national network of community fridges that save thousands of tonnes of food each year. Our fridge helps people connect, access nutritious food, save money, and reduce waste — all while taking local action on climate change.
Is it like a food bank? Do I need a voucher?
No. Unlike food banks, the fridge does not require a referral or voucher. The fridge is open during the opening times for anyone to take whatever is on the shelf. The food we provide is surplus — donated by supermarkets, local shops, farms, households, and allotments. The fridge is designed to tackle food waste first and foremost, though it also helps people stretch their food budgets.
How does it work?
Our volunteers collect surplus food daily from local supermarkets, shops, and businesses. We also receive fresh produce from allotments and households. All food is weighed, checked, and displayed in the fridge for anyone to take. Everything is free of charge — simply come along, take what you need, and play your part in preventing waste.
Who runs the fridge?
Community Fridge Frome is run by Edventure Frome CIC, together with local volunteers and community partners. It relies on the dedication of Terri Pitts our long standing manager and our volunteers who collect, sort, and manage food supplies. The fridge has inspired hundreds of other community fridges across the UK.
Can I drop off food items from home?
Yes — we welcome donations from households and allotments. All packaged food must be unopened, in good condition, and within two days of its use-by date. We can accept home-grown fruit and vegetables. Unfortunately, we cannot accept eggs and raw meat.
How is the fridge funded?
The fridge is supported through grants, donations, and partnerships with local businesses. It costs money to run — covering collection, electricity, equipment, our Coordinator, and volunteer support — so every donation makes a difference. If you’d like to contribute, you can donate online, or get in touch about sponsorship opportunities.
How can I get involved?
There are many ways to support the fridge:
1. Volunteer to help with collections, sorting, or welcoming visitors
2. Donate surplus produce from your home, allotment, or business
3. Make a financial contribution to help keep the fridge running
4. Spread the word and encourage others to use the fridge
Together, we can reduce waste, share resources, and make Frome a more resilient community.
Supported by
Our partners
Award-winning
Philip Campagna, presented Terri Pitts with a Mayor’s commendation in October 2023, for all the fantastic work she does for the Community Fridge: Frome.
Frome’s Community Fridge was the winner of the Innovation in Politics Awards 2019 in the category of “COMMUNITY”.
Terri Pitts, Community Fridge Manager, won the BBC Make A Difference Green Award in 2023
In 2021, Terri received a Mayor’s Civic Award for her work: making sure the fridge is always stocked with food that would otherwise be wasted. More here.