REfUSE Cafe

REFUSE is a social enterprise based in the North East. Our cafe in Chester le Street is an inclusive, creative space open to all and serving food on a pay as you feel basis, Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm. We intercept perfectly edible food that would otherwise not make it to plate and serve it to "feed bellies not bins".

As well as the positive environmental impacts of reducing food waste the project also has clear social benefits through operating a Pay-as-you-feel (PAYF) policy. PAYF offers an alternative to the conventional payment system as there is no price on any produce of the café. It means that customers can pay what they can afford, and those who would find it harder to pay can contribute through washing up or welcoming others. All donations given go back into the community work of REFUSE.

We use the events as a platform for raising awareness and understanding of food waste and, as part of a network of other organisations like us, are a loud voice for campaigning against waste and environmental degradation, at every level.