The most famous street refrigerators in the world

Les Frigos Solidaires — France

Founded in Paris, it is one of the best-known networks in Europe. The refrigerators are often placed in front of restaurants, shops, or associations and serve to collect surplus food and distribute it free of charge. The most famous project was the one near Montmartre, which gained widespread media attention. The most famous solidarity refrigerator, which went viral on social media and in media outlets around the world, is the one designed and promoted by 27-year-old Dounia Metboul, whose grandmother is Algerian, and who runs a restaurant with her mother Malika. Clad in light wood by a volunteer carpenter, it is located between Montmartre and the working-class neighborhood of Barbès, but it is not the first refrigerator to appear in Paris. The first refrigerator from the Les Frigos Solidaires network was inaugurated in June 2017, modeled after the solidarity refrigerators in Berlin. Dounia, who had just been in London at the time, had seen one outside a restaurant, where unused food, otherwise destined for the garbage, was dumped, or uneaten meals were freely taken by those in need. Conditions that, due to the economic crisis, Daunia had also seen in France, and decided to replicate the initiative.

Community Fridge Network — United Kingdom

Coordinated by the organization Hubbub, it helped spread the model in the UK. The fridges collect excess food from supermarkets, restaurants, bars, cafes, community gardens, farmers, and residents. Unlike many traditional food banks, community fridges don't require proof of financial need : anyone can come in, leave food, or take it. The idea is to reduce waste, not create a stigmatizing care system.

Foodsharing.de — Germany

Germany is considered one of the movement's pioneering countries: "Fair-Teiler" points allow the sharing of recovered food, often using public refrigerators and shelves. The food comes from various sources:

• Food saver: foodsharing volunteers who collect surplus food from participating shops, bakeries, supermarkets, and restaurants.
• Ordinary citizens: people who have bought too much, cooked too much, or are about to leave and want to avoid throwing away food that is still good.

Anyone can come in and take what they need: no registration, proof of low income, cards, or checks are required.

Galdakao — Spain

The Galdakao solidarity refrigerator was one of the first highly publicized examples in Europe: a citizen initiative born to jointly combat food waste and poverty. The initiative was launched by the Galdakao Volunteers' Association (GBGE) in collaboration with the Municipality. The volunteers are responsible for inspecting the refrigerator; verifying compliance with regulations; raising awareness among residents and businesses; and organizing dissemination of the model.

Community Fridges — United States

In the US, the phenomenon has grown significantly, especially during the pandemic. Cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago have developed networks of self-managed refrigerators run by volunteers. The rationale is that of mutual aid , at the neighborhood level, to simultaneously address food insecurity and food waste . The principle is summarized by this slogan: "Take what you need, leave what you can."

Pappadavada — India

Solidarity Street Refrigerators — Brazil

In some Brazilian cities, refrigerators powered by shops and residents have appeared to distribute surplus food. These refrigerators have also been placed along roadsides and are accessible 24/7. Anyone, including residents, retailers, bakeries, and restaurants, can deposit surplus food, which anyone can then collect free of charge.

Even in this case, some rules must be followed: raw meat and fish, eggs, and other expired foods cannot be left in the refrigerator. Home-cooked meals are fine, but they must be labeled with the preparation date.

Public Refrigerator Freego — Japan

It is one of the first Japanese examples of an organized public refrigerator, created in Yokohama to encourage food reuse and reduce waste.

• refrigerators and freezers;
• shelves for non-refrigerated products;
• food and basic necessities available free of charge.

Read also:

• Solidarity Fridges: Where to Find Them, Even in Italy
• The zero-waste neighborhood in Turin
• Bon Jovi opens restaurants where you can eat for free