European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR)

The first ever official European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) will be held during the week of November 21^st – 29^th. The aim of the event is to promote sustainable waste reduction actions and highlight the impact of our consumption on the environment and on climate change.

Waste Awareness Wales (WAW) have been delegated the task of organising the European Week of Waste Reduction on behalf of Wales. WAW will be working in partnership with Envirowise, Keep Wales Tidy and Cylch to promote waste reduction activity across all sectors.

The aim of EWWR is to raise the awareness of the general public of the ease and importance of waste reduction.

WAW aims to showcase all of the EWWR awareness raising activities across Wales through both local and national media – it is their hope that significant broadcast media interest will be generated.

A number of other European countries including Belgium, Estonia, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and other regions of the UK (Recycle for London, East of England, Belfast & Scotland) are all undertaking activities during the EWWR.

At present in Wales the following local authority waste officers have indicated that they plan to run one or more  waste reduction activities; Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, NPT, Torfaen and Newport.

However, in order to give a true demonstration of Wales’ waste reduction work we would really like to showcase Community based activities being undertaken across Wales.

Waste reduction activities could well be something you are already doing – we want to hear about them!!

Ideas for activity themes:

• Love Food Hate Waste (LFHW) – demonstration of how to make delicious meals from leftovers, food storage tips, more sensible shopping to cut down on excessive food purchasing etc
  
• Smart Shopping Day – reusable shopping bags, avoiding over packaged goods, buying fruit and veg loose, buying longer life products, etc 
  
• Big SWAP event (s) – jumble sales, freecycle groups, book swaps, car boot sales in office car parks ,give & take days/ bring & buy sales etc
  
• Donating items for reuse – Furniture reuse, refurbished electrical items, charity shop donations, school uniform swaps etc (visit the Association of Charity shops D-Day toolkits www.ddaydonate.charityshops.org.uk)
  
• Reducing Waste at Home – hints and tips on how to reduce waste at home e.g. using rechargeable batteries, Tupperware instead of cling film and foil wraps etc – Active families wanted for case study!
  
• Junk Mail Opt Out – WAW can provide details of how many individuals in your area have chosen to deregister their address details
  
• Real Nappies – Nappachino event, parents groups who use Real nappies

If you are keen on getting involved please contact our Waste Reduction officer at WAW contact us to discuss your ideas.