Did you know that households in Hackney produce around 62,000 tonnes of waste every year, enough rubbish to fill London Fields seven times over, and all of this rubbish has to be disposed of which has a huge impact on the environment?

This month, as part of European Week for Waste Reduction, 19-27 November, Hackney residents are again being urged to be mindful of their waste and see how they can make a big difference to the environment and save money by taking a few simple steps.

During the week, the Council and the North London Waste Authority (NWLA) will be hosting a number of events in and around the borough to highlight the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling to minimise the amount of waste produced.

To get started residents can take up the Zero Waste Challenge and monitor what they produce over a couple weeks by downloading a Challenger’s pack from the Council’s website. Anyone who returns their monitoring sheet before the end of November will be entered into a prize draw to win one of five organic vegetable boxes.

There will also be baby clothing and maternity wear swapping event, a food waste roadshow and a real nappy event that everyone can participate in and have fun. Plus a chance to win one of 30 battery chargers with four AA batteries by completing our online quiz at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/X38KLKK

Councillor Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Waste prevention is a priority for the Council and this is an informative week for residents to see how their contributions can help to reuse, recycle and reduce waste in Hackney. I encourage everyone to get involved and support our commitment to create a sustainable environment and help make the borough cleaner and greener for the future.”

In the days leading up to EWWR, young people across the borough will also be taking part in activities to help reduce waste in Hackney. The Circus Take-Away educational theatre group will be visiting Bethnal Primary School, St John & St James Primary School and Shacklewell Primary School on Friday 11 or Monday 14 November to perform their ‘Great Taste, Less Waste’ show.

Using magic, juggling comedy, games and audience participation the shows aims to deliver important messages about how we can all change our eating behaviour in small ways to considerably reduce the amount of food wasted across our area.

Events during EWWR:

Thursday 24 November, 10.30 - 11.30am, Real Nappy, Baby Clothes & Maternity Wear Swap at Islington Ecology Centre, Gillespie Park Nature Reserve, 191 Drayton Park, N5 1PH. Come along to swap, donate or simply rummage through. Limited spaces, register with Leo on 020 8356 7930 or email: leonor.barricartebulnes@hackney.gov.uk

Thursday 24 November, 2 - 5pm, Love Food Hate Waste Roadshow at Hackney Service Centre, 1 Hillman Street, E8. Visit NLWA’s Free Lunching roadshow for recipes and practical information on how to reduce food waste and save money, plus advice on how to create a free lunch by using leftovers.

Friday 25 November, 10am to 12noon, Nappuccino at Mapledene and Queensbridge Children Centre, 54 Mapledene Road, E8 3LE. Free coffee morning for parents and carers to find out all they need to know about real nappies, and get a £54.15 voucher towards their cost. Register with Leo on 020 8356 7930 or email: leonor.barricartebulnes@hackney.gov.uk

For more information about reducing waste in Hackney, call: 020 8356 6688; or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/wasteprevention