A new regional food recovery project initiated by the Consortium of Neighbourhood Centres Far North Coast, with funding support from the NSW Government, was launched at the New School of Arts Neighbourhood Centre in South Grafton last Wednesday. Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis said the project is supported by a $190,970 grant under the NSW Government’s ‘Waste Less, Recycle More’ initiative which encourages innovative ideas to address waste, recycling, littering and illegal dumping in NSW. Mr Gulaptis said the grant has allowed the Consortium to purchase two refrigerated vans allowing food donations to be collected from businesses and redistributed safely to people in need across the Northern Rivers. “This is a terrific project and what I love about it most is that it is a grassroots, community-driven project that has been recognised and supported by government as a common sense and really valuable community-based initiative. “You’ve good food that’s going into landfill that’s still fresh and useable and a community that’s hungry and needs food and at the same time you’re able to reduce what goes into landfill.  It’s a win-win situation. “I applaud everyone involved on identifying a need in the region and coming up with a fantastic project that supports the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members in our local communities,” Mr Gulaptis said. The Consortium of Neighbourhood Centres Far North Coast comprises of seven neighbourhood centres – South Grafton, Mid Richmond at Evans Head, DAISI at Ballina, Nimbin, Murwillumbah, Kyogle and Pottsville Beach. Volunteers will collect and redistribute food collections throughout the Northern Rivers.  For further information or to become a volunteer visit www.foodrecovery.org.au or phone the Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre on 6682 4334.