RESIDENTS of Camelford and surrounding areas enjoyed a ‘pay as you feel’ meal, courtesy of the Real Junk Food Project North Cornwall, for the first time recently.

The Real Junk Food Project is an international scheme, aiming to use food that would otherwise go to waste, to create delicious meals for people on any budget, and get the community together. As well as running in cities all across the UK, the initiative is also featuring in Australia and countries in Europe.

The average amount of food that goes to waste in the UK every year is approximately ten-million tonnes, equalling to £17-billion a year and contributing 20-million in greenhouse gas emissions. It has been revealed that 60% of this waste is avoidable.

The ‘pay as you feel’ basis of the scheme allows diners to pay as they wish, and their payments don’t just have to be cash.

If people are able to offer a skill or help with the washing up at the end of the evening, that would be acceptable.

One of three organisers of the Real Junk Food Project North Cornwall, Betty Alexander, who works alongside friends Paul and Susan, said the event was a great success.

She said: “It went really well. We served around 50 people, which for a first event in Camelford was brilliant. Loads of people got things to take home too — potatoes, Brussels sprouts. One of the main things we’ve found with the project is that it grows each time, and we hope it continues to grow.”

The community interest project has been hosting regular events at St Kitt’s Herbery, near Camelford, for around four months now, with diners able to eat from 6pm on the second and fourth Friday of the month.

Betty said: “The main aim is to intercept food that would otherwise go to waste. We don’t scavenge through bins; we use products that may have gone past their ‘best before’ date, but not their ‘use by’. It’s all for the benefit of the community, and the events are open to everyone. Everyone is welcome.

“It’s more of a social thing than anything, and we’ve found that all of our events so far have been really friendly. People sit and chat on big tables, and get to know each other, which is lovely to see.”

People wishing to dine at one of the events are not required to book, but it is asked that big groups get in contact with one of the organisers to let them know. Food is served from 6pm until it runs out. Anything left over is able to be taken home, with the bill at the end of the night being whatever diners feel they would like to pay.

The next Real Junk Food Project North Cornwall event will take place on Sunday, February 11, from 12.30pm at the Crackington Institute, Crackington Haven.