The EWWR is designed to raise awareness of waste reduction strategies and policies of the European Union and to help encourage public authorities and businesses to introduce sustainable waste reduction schemes.
Supported by the European Commissions Life+ Programme the scheme was launched in Brussels in 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story). It enjoyed great success in 2010 with the number of local and regional actions almost doubling from 2,672 in 2009 to 4,300 a year later.
The week was conceived as a means of emphasising the importance of waste reduction as part of the Waste Directive Framework which was published in 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story). The framework sets the ground rules for waste across Europe and includes a five stage waste hierarchy, with waste prevention at the top.
Efforts
Seven regions in the UK are participating which includes national efforts from Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as regional efforts from Belfast, Buckinghamshire, Warrington and North London.
Waste Awareness Wales is participating in the EWWR campaign and will be organising activities throughout the country for the duration of the week. Activities include: a recycling and reuse workshop, talks at local schools to promote the importance of composting and a give it away, take it away event.
Commenting on recycling in Wales, Georgina Taubman, of Waste Awareness Wales, said: Here in Wales we now recycle over 45 per cent of our rubbish and recycling has become a part of normal life. But while it is really important to recycle as much as we can the best way to protect our planet is to reduce the amount of rubbish we produce in the first place.
By taking simple actions to cut off the problem at its source, we can all make a big difference, she added.
London
The North London Waste Authority (NLWA) and Hackney borough council have meanwhile teamed up to promote EWWR across the borough with a host of events from Napuccino, a free advice service and coffee morning for mums about the benefits of using cotton nappies to a compost giveaway.
The week will also see the Zero Waste Challenge and a battery and electrical item quiz in which residents can participate to win prizes.
Hackney will be encouraging young people to get involved with the Circus Take-Away group visiting local schools to perform their Great Taste, Less Waste show.
Commenting on the activities councillor Clyde Loakes, chairman of the NLWA, said: The events taking place in Hackney over the European Week for Waste Reduction are designed to highlight the impact of our consumption on the environment and climate change, and how we can all make simple, small changes to drastically reduce the amount of waste that we create. This not only helps reduce the amount of waste we produce in the area, but it could help save the planet and the pennies in your pocket.
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