A year on from the launch of the Kaivolution food rescue programme the project has saved 62 tonnes of food which would have gone to landfill and is now providing 47 charities that feed the needy.
Kaivolution co-ordinator and driver Simon Gascoigne has been involved in the project since the beginning and said donations had exceeded expectations.
In addition to Simon, two extra drivers have been recruited with pickups running from Monday through to Saturday and wheels are in motion to secure a second van to deal with the extra donations.
Every month the project rescues food equal to roughly 14,000 meals, adding up to a monthly reduction of 7840kg in greenhouse gas emissions.
As word spreads the number of donors are increasing at a rapid pace.
Simon said records are also provided to every retailer so they can see their own wastage and adjust production accordingly.
"The main thing is the environmental and social benefit," he said.
One thing the volunteers are never short of is bread, with a recent donation totaling 70kg of bread.
Environment Centre manager Ruth Seabright said she had nightmares about the volumes of lettuce that moved through the place.
"On Christmas Eve last year we had a call saying they had four pallet loads of lettuce," said Simon.
Donations include items past best-by dates to excess produce from farmers who have been a little over zealous when plainting their pumpkin patches.
"We got several dozen eggs and it turned out their yokes were too small," Simon said.
None of the food goes to waste, with three foodbanks among the 47 charity organisation supplied by the project.
"Our networks are really good right across the region," Ruth said.
If you would like to contribute to Kaivolution's new van there is a Give A Little page set up www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/kaivolutionvan.