Community
17 June, 2026
Food rescue a success
THE second food rescue market held in Cobden on Friday, June 12 was a resounding success, expanding on the first market held two months ago to be even bigger and better.
The markets began in Camperdown, through the Camperdown and District Community House in partnership with the Camperdown Uniting Church.
Camperdown and District Community House coordinator Emily Mercer said there was a growing community need to prevent food waste and food from going into landfill.
“We all became a lot more aware of the level of food waste that happens generally across any community,” she said.
“Because we were getting donated food from local supermarkets, we were able to distribute some through the food banks and there were a lot of foods that we couldn’t for various reasons - it was all food that was destined for landfill.
“We were the last stop before the supermarkets were going to be throwing it all away.
“We thought we just don’t want to see this waste so the food waste markets started as an avenue to go: hey we’ve got all this food and it’s still good, it was going to be thrown away, so if you can use it, use it.”
The Cobden markets began as an expansion on the ones in Camperdown, occurring every second month on alternate months to the markets which take place in Camperdown.
They are made possible through partnership with the Cobden Uniting Church.
“It’s a small community action against waste and we want to encourage anyone in the community to come along,” Ms Mercer said.
“Times are tough for everybody and it’s not a food aid program or service, it’s a community event.
“We’re wanting to empower us as a community to have this circular economy approach to food that potentially was heading to landfill from the supermarket.
“We all know how much buying groceries is just going up all the time and a nice benefit is that we’re getting free food.
“It’s so incredible to think that with the amount of food we started with, that’s not just being thrown away.”
Ms Mercer said the success of the second market in Cobden was extraordinary, with even more food available and more people coming in to save it from landfill.
“It’s been a really good turn-out and a good amount of food going out,” she said.
“We have a couple of different options if we don’t move all of the food.
“We’ve got a couple of other channels where we can distribute it before it has to be thrown out.
“The whole purpose of the market is to ensure that the food is being used rather than being disposed of.
“If anyone missed out on the food rescue market they can always check in with Helen Perkins down at the Cobden Uniting Church op shop.”
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