North London waste reduction week kicks off

The nine-day initiative aims to highlight the amount of waste being thrown away and ways to reduce it. It got underway on Friday (October 16), with life-sized sculptures made out of waste, depicting figures engaged in everyday activities, being displayed in St Pancras International Station.

The figures were made by primary school children from across the NLWA's seven member authorities and each represent the five kilograms of waste thrown away weekly by the average person.

As part of the campaign, which runs until October 25, over 250 residents, schools and businesses have signed up to a 'Watch Your Waste' challenge, where they aim to reduce the amount of waste they produce over seven days.

All the participants are expected to weigh their rubbish from a normal week, follow tips on how to reduce it and then record just how much they have reduced their waste by at the end of the week.

Last year's challenge involved over 1,000 residents, schools and businesses cutting their waste by up to 50%.

Commenting on the event, the chair of the NLWA, councillor Clyde Loakes, explained that, by reducing waste, the week also aimed to reduce the area's carbon footprint.

He added: “Whilst recycling is great, preventing the amount of waste we produce in the first place is even better. This week is the ideal opportunity to get the message out there that there are simple things we can all do to reduce the rubbish we create.”

Other events being held during the week include clothes swapping parties, compost advice and give-away events, reuse 'Give or Take Days', plastic bag amnesties, reuseable bag giveaways, school workshops and real nappy events.

Residents of the boroughs will also be able visit recycling road-shows, hear from council recycling experts and pick up free 'food rescue packs', which aim to help people reduce food waste.

Awards

Earlier this month, last year's first 'Watch Your Waste Week' won the prize for 'Best Regional Project/Initiative' at the LARAC awards (see letsrecycle.com story).

The NLWA's commitment to waste reduction also saw it become the sole UK participant in the pilot of the European Waste Reduction Week, a Europe-wide waste minimisation campaign held in November 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story).

The first full European Week for Waste Reduction is set to be held between November 21 and 29.