Zero Waste Week | 2nd – 6th September
Zero Waste Week is an award-winning, grassroots annual awareness campaign that takes place online and on-the-ground. The aim is to help householders, businesses, organisations, schools, universities and community groups reduce landfill waste to save money, preserve resources and protect the environment.
In Cumbria we have numerous projects and organisations that help you cut your waste, save items from landfill and save you, and your organisation, money.
Clothes swaps and repair cafes can support you in your efforts to reduce clothing waste, a recognised contributor to harmful emissions and damage to the environment. Recycle for Cumbria tell us we waste around 5000 tonnes of clothing here in Cumbria each year, and globally it accounts for 4% of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions – yet 30% of the clothes in our wardrove haven’t been worn.
The Clothing Collective brings together many of these ideas in one place. Take a look!
Food waste, both at home and in the workplace is another area that small changes can make big gains. WRAP – the Food Waste charity estimates waste across all sectors to be around 10.7 million tonnes here in the UK – this had a value of over £22 billion a year. The GHG emissions from households alone total 18 million tonnes. Read more about their campaign here.
Our Low Carbon Food project showcases what organisations in Cumbria are doing with case studies from hospitality as well as recipes that can be adapted for home.
At a local level there are community larders across the county, such as Kendal’s Waste into Wellbeing, who not only support households in accessing affordable food but also reducing food waste with help from local businesses.
We are also working with a vermi-economy trial, a look at reducing food waste by composting on a scale that can be replicated across the county. You can read more about this trial, which involves Cumbria Action for Sustainability and Master Composters here.
Repair cafes and projects that encourage the reuse of materials are booming here in Cumbria. The Rebuild Site puts waste materials from business back into use for householders, charities and community groups – and hold events encouraging the development of skills and crafts. People Planet Pocket, based in Ulverston, also hold ‘FixFests’ designed to promote ingenuity, skill development and reduce waste.
Businesses are being encouraged to explore supply chains and develop sustainable practices for waste management. If your business or organisation is interested in the circular economy we held a webinar last year, that you can watch it on Cumbria Action for Sustainabilty’s You Tube channel here.
Are you, or your organisation celebrating any waste reduction success? If so, share your story with us on social media – or get in touch – marketing@zerocarboncumbria.co.uk.
