SEPA hands out funds for Highland community waste projects

In December 2004 the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) announced that it would be handing out a one-off fund for Highland-based waste management projects. SEPA worked with the council, communities and industry to develop the Highland Waste Plan.

” These projects will not only raise awareness about reducing waste but will also help people take positive action to change their own behaviour “
– Sheila Wickens SEPA
The projects, which will share a total of 10,000, will support the Highland Waste Plan and help to meet targets on reducing the volumes of rubbish going to landfill.

Announcing the funding, Sheila Wickens of SEPA, said: “We are delighted to be supporting these projects as they will make a real difference to the way people think and act towards waste.

The variety of proposals and their spread across the Highlands is especially pleasing. They will not only raise awareness about reducing waste but will also help people take positive action to change their own behaviour,” she added.

Projects

The projects to receive funding include the Highland Real Nappy Project, which will use its 3,995 grant to purchase real nappies for incentive scheme packs, trial kits and demonstration kits.

Laggan Forest Trust and Alness's Coulpark Residents Association are to receive 500 each to purchase community-shared garden shredders so that waste can be home-composted.

Lochaber Environment Group, which is to be given 1,425 to print low waste educational messages on to sturdy reusable cloth shopping bags which are to be distributed in the area.

Laggan Community Association will run three related mini-projects with its grant of 2.367. These are a community meeting with guest speakers promoting waste prevention, a waste minimisation pack and a community-shared paper shredder to create animal bedding. And, Homemaid Caithness will receive 1,000 to produce leaflets promoting reuse of household items such as furniture via Homemaid Caithness itself.

The Highland Waste plan was launched in February 2003 and laid out a blueprint for taking a more sustainable approach to waste management. The target for 2010 is to recycle 27% of the area's municipal waste and compost 13%.