Sydney man's 'amazing' act for neighbours despite threat of $1000 fine
For the past several months, Michael has been giving away discarded food and items in inner west Sydney.
A Sydney man is facing a $1,000 fine for what members of his community have deemed a “kind” and “amazing” act as Aussies continue to struggle with the rising cost of living.
For the past several months, the 46-year-old full-time hotel worker — who goes by the pseudonym Michael — has been leaving boxes filled with discarded items and food found in supermarket bins on the front porch of his Enfield home, in the city's inner west.
He then posts an image online and encourages other residents to come “take what you need”.
“Good morning neighbours, I put these out this morning before I left for work,” he wrote on a Sydney Facebook page dedicated to recycling and reducing waste. A photo shows a large pile of bread and vegetables neatly sorted in crates, leaning up against a brick wall.
His one simple request for the freebies? “Please only take what you need and consider others who come after you,” he asks.
Man faces $1000 police fine and 12-month ban
Michael told Sky News his came up with the idea after being introduced to dumpster diving almost a year ago. Not long after, a fruit and vegetable vendor saw him sorting through supermarket bins and offered him his leftover produce as well.
“That was when I started helping out the community because I was then given so much,” he said. “I feel good that I can help in any way I can to reduce their grocery budget and help move short dated or excess stock.”
Perhaps a sign of the times, “the food gets taken pretty quickly,” he added.
Despite a positive reception from the community, the 46-year-old said he is facing a “$1,000 fine and a 12-month ban” from a local shopping centre if security catches him going through their bins again.
“I and many others have now been slapped with a ban from shopping malls because management do not like the public going through their bins,” he told Sky.
'Proud to call you a neighbour'
Locals have praised Michael’s “great deed” online, with one lucky recipient calling him a “proper legend”.
“I have picked up bread from you twice and it makes a massive difference as I’m struggling with money at the moment and unemployed,” she said, adding that she was “so appreciative” of his efforts.
“Proud to call you a neighbour,” another person wrote.
Dumpster diving has become a popular habit as desperate Aussies continue to watch their grocery bills soar. Last month, Yahoo News Australia spoke to a man who has been rummaging through supermarket bins for over a decade and now educates others on dumpster diving by putting on workshops and taking people into the field to search for discarded but edible food.
“I couldn’t have imagined the insane amount of perfectly good food that is thrown away,” Andrew told Yahoo. “It’s really shocking and disturbing.”
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Last year, TikToker Luca Corby filmed himself and two friends discovering a huge amount of fresh fruit and vegetables in an IGA bin. Food wastage costs the economy around $36.6 billion each year and accounts for approximately three per cent of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, according to the National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study.
How can you cut down on food waste?
According to WWF Australia, here are some steps you can take to reduce food waste in your home:
Check the fridge before you shop and only buy what you need.
Plan your meals. Use leftovers and be creative with your next meal.
Check date labels and know the difference between:
‘Use by’ — food has to go.
‘Best before’ — food is at its best and can be eaten after this date as long as it has been stored correctly.
‘Display until’ — a stock control message for retailers.
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