Increasing organizations in Dorset are spreading the Zero Waste philosophy, teaching all generations about its benefits.
Zero Waste Kitchen Challenge in Poole
Rebecca Wakeford is the Council’s Waste Management project officer and is leading the Zero Waste Kitchen Challenge.
The project will provide cooking workshops and £100 worth of kitchen tools to reduce food waste in participants’ homes. The Council is currently recruiting 50 families across the Borough of Poole to participate.
Rebecca and her team will measure the family’s food waste and the money spent on groceries each week. Among other events, three cooking workshops will take place from January to March 2018 where experts will teach waste reducing techniques like using up leftovers, correct food storage and portion control.
Green Taskforce at Bournemouth University
Chloe Humphreys, 21, and Laura Higgs-White, 27, are Chair and Vice Chair of Bournemouth’s Green Taskforce, a group of volunteers who wish to make Bournemouth as Zero Waste as possible.
They have managed to reduce plastic cup sales on campus. “This year, having your drink in a plastic cup will cost you 20p more. These initiatives are more impactful”, said Chloe. They have also talked to local bars hoping to introduce a strawless policy in Bournemouth.
“We are the generation of change.”
GTF believes that by educating young students, an eco-conscious chain can be created. “They will share what they learn with their friends and family. We’re hoping to achieve big things from something quite small.”
Origin of the Zero Waste movement
This lifestyle has slowly been introduced into the UK by American and Australian Zero Waste blogs. 26-year-old Kathryn Kellog, creator of the popular blog Going Zero Waste, said:
“We all need to slow down. We need to consume less, make purchases that are meant to last, repair what we have.”
Being Zero Waste in the UK is harder because there are few bulk markets or places where you take your own containers compared to America or Australia. However, businesses in England are starting to adapt to this philosophy.
Smokin’ Aces in Bournemouth
The owner of Bournemouth’s Smokin’ Aces, Jay Adams, has decided to go strawless:
“Most clients are supportive but if someone isn’t, we offer them recyclable paper straws. We’ve decided that the easiest way for clients to understand this is to show them photos of straws and plastic pollution in the ocean.”
