European Week for Waste Reduction

What is the week all about?

The European Week for Waste Reduction is taking place this year from the 20th to the 28th of November. The week focuses on highlighting waste reduction activities across Europe and raising awareness of the waste hierarchy.

Get involved in the European Week for Waste Reduction! You can take part in the campaign by completing the form towards the bottom of the page and sending back to us. Please note the closing date for application forms is the 5th of November by 5pm.

How can I get involved?

In order for your project to be part of the European Week for Waste Reduction it must focus on one or more of the following themes:

Too much waste - actions that aim to raise awareness about the urgency of reducing the quantity of waste we produce.

Better production - actions that raise awareness about the measures taken up by businesses and industry to reduce the amount of waste generated through their economic activity.
Better consumption - actions that aim to make the consumer think carefully about his/her choices; and think about the environment each time a purchase is made.
A longer life for products - actions that seek to remind the public that products can have a second life.
Less waste thrown away - actions that demonstrate different solutions to avoid having to throw so much in the bin.

Recycling cannot be promoted during the week as it strictly focuses on prevention of waste.

Examples of actions

Businesses

Run a paper campaign to reduce paper consumption in your office
Measure food waste created in restaurants and canteens
Waste free packed lunch box competition

Local authorities

Recycling centre interventions for reusable items
Office waste campaign
Unwanted mail sign up sessions
Swap days for reusable items

Community groups

Open day
Information stands in public places

Schools

Waste free packed lunch competition
Craft making day from reused items

Register now!

If you are a local authority, business, school, University or College, community group or other organisation who would like to take part in the week in any capacity please download the following document.

Registration Form
Word document

Participation Charter
Pdf document

You will need to register what you plan to do as part of the week with us, as Zero Waste Scotland are organising the week for Scotland. Please email us back this form to info@wasteawarescotland.org.uk with information on what you plan to do, how this links to the main aims of the week and the date/location etc of your proposed action. After we have received your proposal we can then give you resources to help with your event such as posters, badges and other materials.

For further information on the week visit: www.ewwr.eu

Further communication tools and information will become available shortly. In the mean time please contact us or visit www.ewwr.eu for further information on the week.

What took place last year?

During 2009 we ran a pilot campaign as part of the European Week for Waste Reduction with a total of 33 actions taking place across Scotland. Over 2,500 actions took place across Europe in 14 countries which participated.

Further examples of excellent waste reduction actions from last year can be found on the EWWR website as well as some quick ideas here.