Funding award for Hackney City Farm zero waste initiatives
North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has today (11 December) announced the first of its Waste Prevention Community Fund awards for 2020. After a competitive application process NLWA awarded funding to Hackney City Farm for its Get Loose Get Out and Hackney City Farm Gets Signposting projects.
NLWA’s trailblazing Community Fund awards funding to community groups to develop and run projects that will support the local community to reduce their waste.
The NLWA funding will help Hackney City Farm to develop two zero waste initiatives to reduce the amount of waste produced by visitors on site and at home. The Farm is expanding its successful Get Loose zero waste shop and installing new digital signposting to encourage waste reduction. The project is focused on reducing the amount of single-use plastic and packaging visitors use and on encouraging them to take up other waste-preventing behaviours.
Councillor Jon Burke, Chair of NLWA’s Members Recycling Working Group, said: "We’ve seen lots of local projects delivering great work to reduce waste in north London with the help of our Community Fund. I’m delighted we’re able to support this excellent project to tackle single-use plastic and packaging waste, which is such a big concern for so many of us.
"Now, during a Climate Emergency, it is more important than ever that we continue to do everything we can to reduce the amount of waste we produce. That’s why NLWA is committed to supporting local community groups with innovative ideas for tackling waste.
"This year’s application process was more competitive than ever so I’m looking forward to seeing the results of the projects we’ve supported.”
The Get Loose project aims to demonstrate that even in a small space, and under COVID-19 restrictions, it is possible to run a refill retail model that serves a large number of people and minimises packaging waste.
Jacki Agnew, Get Loose Shopkeeper, said: "The Waste Prevention Fund has been fundamental (pun intended) in keeping Get Loose alive and well. The second door allows safe serving of customers under Covid; the collection point adds a second revenue stream to our non profit, and the digital screen enables us to encourage the farm-frequenting community to be more waste aware and resourceful."
Hackney residents could also be in with a chance of winning £100 to spend at zero waste food shops such as Get Loose if they reduce the waste they create this month, so there is no better time to try out waste-free shopping. For more information see the #ZeroWasteHackney challenge on social media.
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