Food waste is a growing issue in Singapore, making up about 12% of our total waste in 2024. At the same time, prices at grocery stores keep climbing, and eating healthy food is starting to feel like a luxury – after all, there’s only so much caifan one can eat.
So if you’re trying to stretch your dollar and save the planet, here are ways to get free or cheap rescued groceries in Singapore, from community fridges and food rescue initiatives to handy apps that’ll help you cut waste and cost.
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“Rescued food” is exactly what it sounds like – edible food that would’ve otherwise gone to waste. Items include surplus stock, slightly bruised fruits, snacks nearing their expiry date, or simply produce that does not fit supermarket beauty standards.
Instead of going to waste, they’re collected and redistributed – sometimes sold at low prices, other times given away for free. They may not look picture-perfect, but they taste the same.
We’ve included options that are open to all, but just note that some other food banks and organisation-led initiatives out there may only be available to eligible individuals. Always double-check before heading down.
Image credit: Olio
This mobile app from the UK is one of the most widely used freecycling platforms in Singapore. Think of Olio (App Store | Google Play) as a free, community-based version of Carousell – where users give away things they don’t need, and take up what they do need. It’s often used to distribute surplus food, and you can filter listings by proximity, request certain items, or even lend things out to others in the neighbourhood.
Olio has even teamed up with pandamart to redistribute rescued groceries through volunteers known as “Food Waste Heroes”. Sign up to become a volunteer, and you’ll be tasked to help collect goods from stores and upload them to the app for others to claim. There are no in-app payments involved for users – just pick up whatever items you need directly from fellow users.
Image credit: People’s Association via Facebook
There are quite a number of community fridges in Singapore, and they operate on a simple concept: take what you need, give what you can. These fridges are set up by different neighbourhoods and initiatives, and are usually stocked with donated or rescued food from suppliers such as Fridge Restock SG and Fairprice Food Share.
Since each fridge is managed differently, check with the respective organisation, community club or residents’ network for eligibility details. Most, however, operate on a first-come, first-served basis and are open to all residents. Here are some free-for-all community fridges across Singapore:
| Name | Location | Details |
| Bishan East Zone 1 Community Fridge | Blk 112 Bishan Street 12 | Open 24/7 Offers fresh vegetables |
| Community Fridge | Blk 162 Yishun Street 11 | Open 24/7 Offers halal-friendly produce |
| Food Rescue Community Fridges | Hardcourt at Blk 9 Toh Yi Drive | Open 24/7 Set up an account to take up to 5 items per month |
| Bedok Sunflower Community Fridge | Blk 33 Bedok South Avenue 2 | Open every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, 3pm to 4pm Residents can redeem up to 2 bags worth of fruits and vegetables Offers halal food items |
| My Kind of Fridge | Blk 441 Tampines Street 43 | Open 24/7 Offers halal food items |
| The Healthy Indulgence Programme (HIP) Fridge | Blk 616 Punggol Drive | Opening hours vary Offers fresh fruits and vegetables, with a kopi and donation corner |
| The Magic Fridge | Blk 5 Telok Blangah Crescent | Opening hours vary Offers fresh fruits and vegetables |
To find community fridges near you, check Green Guide or Fridge Restock SG’s location directories.
Here’s one of the big players in Singapore’s food rescue scene: the Fridge Restock Community (FRC). This non-profit collects unsold produce and groceries through 2 to 3 rescue missions a week. The volunteers at FRC then distribute more than 9,000kg of rescued food to 40 community fridges and distribution points across the island.
Follow FRC on Facebook to see when the next distributions will take place, and maybe even sign up to help out. Check out the full list of distribution points.
Image credit: FRSK- Food Rescue Sengkang via Facebook
“Feed the people, not the bins.” That’s the tagline of Food Rescue Sengkang (FRSK), a group of volunteers that’s been sharing surplus groceries to communities since 2019.
Their main hubs are based in Fernvale Link and Thanggam Hub, but the network also supports satellite points in neighbourhoods like Marymount, Sembawang, Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh, and Yishun. The main hubs host $2 ticketed events, while the satellite points run weekly or fortnightly distributions depending on supply and manpower, and those are free for all.
Check FRSK’s Telegram channel for the latest news on their rescues.
Image credit: KampungBishan via Facebook
If you live in Bishan, you might’ve spotted late-night crowds gathering around one of the blocks – that’s Kampung Bishan Bread Rescue in action. This community initiative rescues unsold bakery bread for redistribution.
The event happens at 10.30pm every Monday and Wednesday at the Block 145 Residents’ Corner. Kampung Bishan also supplies daily bread to the community fridge in the same area. Better show up early, as they get snatched up quickly.
Check out the Kampung Bishan Facebook page for the latest updates.
Bishan Community Club Food Distribution holds a large-scale event every 4th and 5th Wednesday of the month from 4pm to 5pm. In collaboration with Ascending Hope Community Services, a non-profit organisation in Singapore, many of their 2025 events have included free haircuts too.
Upcoming distributions are on 29th October and 26th December 2025, both with on-site haircuts. Expect fresh produce and pantry staples, and check out the schedule on Bishan CC’s Instagram page.
And if you’d like quality groceries at drastically reduced prices, these 3 places and apps have a lot to offer. By rescuing surplus and near-expiry foods, they ensure that nothing goes to waste and pass the savings on to you in the process.
Tucked inside Tekka Place, MoNo Foods sells surplus packaged goods that are close to expiry or past their best-before date, such as organic snacks, plant–based milks, and imported sauces that are still safe to consume.
The pricing system is simple: pick an empty box and fill it with as many items as you can fit. Simply pay for the price of the box – depending on the size, it can cost anywhere from $10 to $35, which is quite a steal. You can also opt for a $35 mystery box, packed with 20 to 25 surprise items delivered straight to your door.
The inventory changes weekly depending on donations, so do check for updates from the MoNo Foods Telegram channel. You might just score premium finds like Lurpak butter, truffle sauces, or collagen drinks. Bring your own bag, and don’t be surprised if you receive some freebies too.
The Treatsure (App Store | Google Play) app is one of the most convenient ways to get rescued groceries. Launched in 2017, it connects users to unsellable food from hotels, buffets, and grocers.
Here’s how it works: you browse the app for the available listings, add items to your cart, then opt for delivery for a $7 fee or pick-up at their concept store in Tanjong Pagar Plaza. The items might be surplus, imperfect in appearance, or nearing their best-before date, but still perfectly edible. There’s even a category reserved for yummy bakes.
Another online option is e-grocer UglyFood, which focuses on selling mostly surplus and ugly produce. Shop mangoes, broccoli, and even Shine Muscat grapes at big discounts.
All items are quality-checked to be in good condition, and all spoiled produce will be refunded. You can either pick up your groceries at their outlet at Paragon Shopping Centre or have it delivered – it’s free with a minimum spend of $50. Keep up to date on weekly flash sales and bundles on the UglyFood Telegram channel.
The produce may or may not look quirky, but they’re as good as anything you’d find at your local Fairprice.
For those who need additional support, Singapore also has several food banks providing groceries and essentials to households that qualify for aid.
Food from the Heart and The Food Bank Singapore are 2 of the biggest names. They run community shops and distribution programmes where beneficiaries can pick and choose what they need instead of receiving pre-packed boxes of food.
Applications are typically handled through social service agencies or community partners, so if you or someone you know needs assistance, do reach out.
Every week, Fairprice Food Share restocks its 60 community distribution points with imperfect fruits and vegetables rescued from nearby Fairprice outlets. These distribution points are aimed at eligible beneficiaries such as seniors and low-income families, with over 25,000 beneficiaries fed in less than a year. Check your nearest distribution point.
Whether you’re saving money, cutting down on waste, or just curious about how food rescue works in Singapore, these initiatives make it easy to start. Take what you need, give what you can, and consider donating any surplus food you have to keep the cycle going.
More ways to save money on food in Singapore:
Cover image adapted from: People’s Association, KampungBishan, FRSK- Food Rescue Sengkang via Facebook
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