UK prepares for European waste reduction week

Six UK regions have signed up to the second European Week for Waste Reduction, which will see over 4,000 waste reduction initiatives carried out in 17 countries as part of a week-long event starting tomorrow (November 20).

The European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) is aimed at encouraging businesses, local authorities, residents and public organisations to undertake concerted efforts to cut waste generation at source between November 20 and November 28.

The scheme was launched in Brussels last year (see letsrecycle.com story), where 2,672 ‘actions' were carried out at both national and regional levels. This number has almost doubled in 2010, with 4,231 initiatives set to take place across the week.

And, the UK will look to build on its efforts in 2009, which saw 141 actions undertaken. Six regions will be involved in the scheme, which includes international efforts by Wales and Scotland as well as regional initiatives in London, Belfast, Warrington, the East of England and Buckinghamshire.

Campaign

The three-year campaign has support from the European Commission's Life+ Programme and is set to take place across the continent, with additional efforts being welcomed in the Brazilian region of Minas Gerais. In total, 19 of the 20 organiser from 2009 have returned, while 13 new organisers have also joined the festivities.

The week was conceived as a means of placing increased emphasis on waste prevention, which is at the top of the waste hierarchy and is an important pillar in the revised Waste Framework Directive. The Directive sets the ground rules for waste across Europe and is due to be implemented into UK law by December 12, 2010.

The directive requires EU Member States to design and produce waste prevention programmes by December 12 2013 and also puts the waste hierarchy into law (see letsrecycle.com story).

Efforts

Belfast city council has joined the European Week of Waste Reduction for the first time and intends to use social media to highlight different initiatives and efforts. Through the council's website, Facebook and Twitter pages, Belfast will promote different schemes and also offer residents the opportunity to win free items through participating.

In total, 41 businesses, schools and community groups have signed up to the Belfast scheme and the city council will formally mark its involvement in the EWWR with a launch ceremony at Corn Market in Belfast city centre tomorrow. The free event will feature the Beatndrum and the Really Rubbish Orchestra.

In Scotland, over 90 waste reduction actions are being coordinated by Zero Waste Scotland, ranging from a furniture reuse event at Inverness recycling centre to a waste minimisation essay competition being held at secondary schools across Perth & Kinross.

Commenting on Scotland's EWWR 2010, Betsy Reed, campaigns manager for Zero Waste Scotland said: “European Week for Waste Reduction is a unique opportunity for everyone across Scotland to highlight their commitment to wasting less and recycling and reusing goods to both save ourselves money and reduce our carbon footprint.”

London

In London, efforts are taking place across the capital under the Recycle for London campaign. At the forefront of London's involvement is a focus on textile recycling through ‘clothes swap parties', otherwise known as ‘swishing' events.

Organised in conjunction with London-based clothes recycling charity TRAID and is based on members of the public bringing unwanted items of clothing to events over the week that can be taken away by TRAID for resale in its charity shops.

The event formally kicks off in Hammersmith tomorrow, which will also feature TRAID's ‘Sew Good' workshop, which teaches participants basic sewing, mending and customising skills.

Commending the project, London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “We live in a throwaway society, in London alone 20 million black bin bags of clothes get dumped in landfill each year, creating greenhouse gases and harming our environment. These events are a fantastic way of recycling clothes that are in good condition and saving them from the landfill site.”

Also in London, the North London Waste Authority – which represents seven North London boroughs – has launched a poster campaign, which has seen youngsters in the area produce posters raising awareness about waste reduction. Residents are able to vote for their favourite poster at the NLWA's website.

In addition, the NLWA is holding a plastic bags amnesty in Hackney, holding 'Give and Take' events in Camden and a 'Nappuccino' at Hackney City Farm – which will see it give away £54 worth of real nappies to resdidents who download a voucher from the NLWA and bring with proof of identity with them to the event.

Also at a local level, the London borough of Ealing – in the west of the city – is hosting two Love Food Hate Waste road shows, where the council will be offering free items and tips to make the most of the food you buy and avoid food waste.

The events are being held on Tuesday November 23 between 10am and 5pm at Ealing customer service centre, Perceval House, and on Wednesday November 24 between 11am and 6pm at Ealing central library in the Ealing Broadway Centre.