How many people use the communal fridge? Is there anyone who ever takes responsibility for “ew, yogurt dated 1984!!! It has Pam’s name on it - she hasn’t worked here since the first Bush Administration!” and cleans it out? I’m not sure if your fridge is “so heavily used” and there are too many people using the fridge - some of whom are keeping the equivlent of an entire loaf of bread - or if its more the case that once things go in there is only a 40% chance they will leave (i.e. the rotting food comment) - and its just filled up over time. If someone DID throw away all the rotting stuff, how much room would be left?
Ours doesn’t get cleaned out weekly - and is successful - but someone takes responsibility for cleaning it out at least a few times a year.