CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicagoans can eat well and reduce food waste at the same time, thanks to a new app.
Since Too Good To Go launched Wednesday in Chicago, creators of the app said they have saved 1,200 meals here from going in the trash. Co-founder Lucie Basch said 85 restaurants and shops have signed up locally.
Certain locations of the Art of Pizza, Harold’s Chicken, and Bittersweet Pastry are among those participating. Users pay between $4 and $6 to reserve a ‘surprise bag’ that they’ll pick up before the restaurant or shop closes for the day. If there’s no food left, they get notified and are not charged.
Basch said Too Good to Go gives people a chance to eat well while reducing food waste.
"Of course it feels good to do good, but you also actually are discovering some great products in your neighborhood," she said.
Basch said it’s not designed to replace food donations, which can be challenging.
"When you have a couple of croissants left...you're not going to be able to have a charity picking up the food every night," she said, so that's why Too Good to Go comes as a complement.
For now, the app operates only Chicago, but Basch said they expect to expand to the suburbs, as they have expanded over the globe since launching in Europe five years ago.
The company claims to save two meals per second.
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