A zero waste community

Two community projects in Rochdale have a share of this year’s £70,000 Community Waste Fund to help the region reduce, re-use and recycle. The projects hope to inspire positive change in communities to improve the environment and help residents save money.

Changing the recycling culture with the help of community champions,  reducing the amount of food waste with practical activities, and a paint re-use scheme, are just some of the sustainable projects that secured funding.

Kashmir Youth Project aims to change recycling culture by targeting households within the local community with a track record of low recycling and high contamination. There is a  focus on recruiting volunteers to become community champions and help the cause.

Encouraging communities to re-use rather than discard paint. Rochdale Boroughwide Housing is concentrating on how they can support their residents to re-use more.

The project will collect unwanted, surplus paint for sale to tenants (individuals, families, community groups) and will help save on the energy consumption associated with paint manufacture. This service is coming soon so keep an eye on RBH’s website to find out when the shop will be opening.

Councillor Neil Swannick, Chairman of Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority,  said: “This is the third year of the community waste fund and there is an interesting and diverse range of projects starting up. Through Involving and supporting communities to increase local recycling and reduce waste will help achieve the aim of zero waste to landfill.”