Grocery shopping cost less for Bishan resident Angie Khoo as she loaded bags with over 10kg of frozen pork chops, ribs, and chicken selling at 50% off. The 53-year-old motor company general manager visited the Project Zero Waste Marketplace at Bishan Community Club, The Straits Times reported.
The marketplace, now in its eighth edition, draws hundreds of shoppers seeking relief from rising expenses. Department of Statistics figures show the overall price increase for all households accelerated to 1.7% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, compared with a 0.9% pace in the second half of 2025.
Volunteers and Vendors Expand Food Rescue Efforts
More than 20 vendors, ranging from local vegetable farmers to large-scale food distributors, brought discounted surplus goods, near-expiry food items, and products with imperfect packaging to the community club. Most items were slashed to 50% to 70% of their usual prices.
Cans of baked beans cost $1 each, while packs of steamed buns sold for $2. One fruit stall offered a box-filling buffet for $8.90. Sylvia Loh, chairperson of the Bishan East-Sin Ming Green Action Committee, said volunteers started the marketplace in 2023 to support vendors in recovering costs while creating product awareness.
Distributors Clear Short-Expiry Goods to Prevent Waste
Frozen food distributor CS Tay has participated in the marketplace since 2025, bringing items like chicken midwings expiring in less than six months. Head of sales Karen Tan said supermarkets reject short-expiry stock, and the company mostly clears its stocks at the marketplace while helping lower-income families buy the products at affordable prices.
Another participant, food distributor Lim Siang Huat, priced ready-to-cook paste and instant noodles below cost price to prevent food waste. Head of trade marketing Lissa Goh noted that one customer bought a full carton of noodles after trying and liking them at the previous marketplace.
Queenstown Volunteers Collect Donations for Residents in Need
Over in Queenstown, about 100 volunteers collected donated items from drop-off points and handed them to the charity Hao Ren Hao Shi to distribute to nearly 500 residents in need. The effort formed part of an annual food donation drive involving 10 community partners, 10 Residents’ Networks, and six corporate partners.
The drives coincide with broader discussions on food security. During a parliamentary debate in September concerning food resilience, Members of Parliament raised strategies to tackle food waste amid rising food prices driven by hotter weather and Middle East conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Marketplace
How often does the Project Zero Waste Marketplace run?
The marketplace is held two to three times a year at the Bishan Community Club and has reached its eighth edition since starting in 2023.
What kinds of items are available for purchase?
Vendors offer surplus goods, near-expiry food items, and products with imperfect packaging, including frozen meats, fresh fruits, canned goods, ready-to-cook pastes, and instant noodles.
Where do the surplus items come from?
Volunteers contact various vendors, ranging from local vegetable farmers to large-scale distributors like CS Tay and Lim Siang Huat, to gather inventory including short-expiry goods that supermarkets would not accept.
Worth a look