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 Imagine an Edinburgh Join the South Edinburgh Challenge
• The challenge is simple - put 10% less waste in your bin.
• If every household reduces what they throw away by 2kg each week,

without waste… the weight of two regular bags of sugar, we’ll have met the challenge.

Some examples of reducing waste:

More money in A cleaner and Waste saved per year, or each time you donate*
healthier
our pockets
environment

20kg* 220kg
350kg
Less clutter 7 to 14kg
in our lives 10kg*

Less climate Donate bag Stop Sell/give away Start home Start using
pollution Happier of clothes to unwanted old computer composting real nappies
people charity mail

Many of the simple choices you make will give you other benefits too.
The colour symbols throughout the booklet show you these at a glance:

2
OR let things continue as they are... saves you money 3
And they all have a
helps your community feel-good factor too!

Throwing money in the bin Things with value thrown helps the environment
away rather than
given to others saves you time

Overflowing
Aim for the stars!
As you progress through the booklet, tick off the actions you’ve
bins
Climate pollution completed to keep track of how well you are doing. To reduce your waste
increases the most, complete the ‘star’ actions.

A dirty We’ll know how successful we’ve been by comparing the total weight of
environment waste collected in south Edinburgh from June until December 2010 with
Door mats crowded waste produced during the same months in 2009. We’ll also compare
with unwanted mail these amounts with waste collected in other parts of the city that are not
involved in this challenge.

Together, the communities in south Edinburgh will take the first steps to a
The choice is ours. Waste Free Edinburgh and a better environment for us all. Your efforts
will really make a difference. Ready to get started? Read on…
Join the South Edinburgh Challenge to reduce the
waste we put in our bins.
 In the home Avoid food waste and save money.

Make a packed lunch instead of buying a packaged

lunch - this could save you up to £300 a year.
Did you know... 650 pieces of unwanted mail
are posted through the average British letterbox
each year. This isn’t just annoying, it also uses
valuable resources and takes up space in our bins.
(Source: www.stopjunkmail.org.uk)
Stop unwanted mail and reclaim your doorstep.
Use leftovers to make meals the following day and
store in reuseable containers to save using cling film
or foil.
Get Kitchen Canny - plan your meals for the week
and buy only the food you need. To get a Kitchen
Canny kit see page 16.
Check out www.wasteawarelovefood.org.uk for
information about reducing your food waste.

When you buy items using the internet or catalogues,

choose not to receive promotional material.
Already ticking the boxes?
Ask companies that send you mail to remove you
from their mailing list. Too Good to Waste - Check out this A to Z guide of top
4 5
tips, handy hints and invaluable information about reducing,
Sign up with the Mailing Preference Service to make reusing and recycling household waste. To get your copy see
sure you only get the mail you want. See page 17. page 16 or use the online version at:
http://changeworks.interactive.co.uk/tgtw/frameset.html
To prevent most non-addressed mail, contact Royal
Mail to opt out of their door-to-door service. See
page 17.

Did you know...

Over £1 billion worth
of food is wasted by
us Scots each year.

“
That’s an average of
£430 per household! I didn’ t think I wasted food until I took part in
(Source: www.infoscotland.
Kitchen Canny. It shocked me but helped me too.

”
com/gogreener)
- Simon, Bruntsfield.
 At the shops Be a smart shopper to save time and money.

Give cinema vouchers and concert tickets for waste

Did you know... The products you choose
influence the amount of waste you put in your bin.
Try to choose products with less packaging.
free gifts.
Look out for local ‘swishing’ events where you can
take along clothes and swap them for something
‘new’. Or set up your own with friends!

Resist supermarket deals such as Buy One Get

Be a smart shopper to save time and money. One Free or Three for Two offers if you won’t be able
to eat the food by the use-by date.

Take an old bag shopping! Reuse your plastic bags

or invest in a ‘bag for life’.
Already ticking the boxes?
Choose items with less packaging or buy loose fruit
and vegetables. This can be easier to do when you Use the internet to help sell on items you no longer need -
use local shops rather than supermarkets. Ebay (www.ebay.co.uk); Edinburgh Gumtree
(http://edinburgh.gumtree.com); Freegle (formerly
6 7
Write a shopping list and stick to it! Freecycle) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EdinburghFreegle)

Buy reuseable or rechargeable items instead of

disposables e.g. batteries, razors.

Already ticking
the boxes?

“
The Edinburgh
Charity Shop and Charity shops have provided me with most of my
Reuse Map can help clothing over the years. Primarily it’s the fabric
you find shops and

”
reuse projects in your that attracts me – altering real treasures to fit.
area. See page 16. - Fiona, Marchmont.
 In the garden Reuse in the garden and get creative with your
waste.

Did you know... Approximately 50% of the
average household bin could be home composted.
(Source: www.recyclenow.com)
Compost your waste to get a blooming marvellous
garden.
Start home composting your fruit and vegetable
peelings, teabags and cardboard. You could make
your own compost bin or get a reduced price one
from Waste Aware Scotland (from just £8).
See page 17.
8 9
Use a food waste digester and make a smelly bin a
thing of the past.
The garden is a great place to reuse items that
might otherwise go to waste. Old tyres and crockery
can be turned into plant pots. Leftover wood can be
used to make benches or raised beds. Use old
kitchen units for storage and trays from ready meals
can be used as seed trays.
Already ticking the boxes?
Learn from a Master - For FREE advice about home
composting, book a visit from a local Master Composter
volunteer. See page 16.
Transform your unloved and underused shared garden -
The Edinburgh Community Backgreens Association can help
interested individuals get together with their neighbours to
transform their shared gardens, creating areas to grow your
own vegetables, relax and socialise. See page 17.

Put all your cooked food waste into a food waste

digester, wormery or Bokashi system. See page 16.

“
We love home composting. It reduces our waste,

”
helps the garden and entertains the kids.
- Sandy, Gilmerton.
 Imagine an Edinburgh Doing it? Tick it!

without waste... Sign up with the Use leftovers to Plan your meals for Write a
Mailing Preference make meals for the week and buy shopping
Service the following day only the food you list and
need stick to it!

Doing the star actions in the booklet will make a Resist supermarket deals if you Start home Donate items you no longer
won’t be able to eat the food by composting need to local charities and
Waste Free Edinburgh a reality. Help us make the change. the use-by date reuse projects

Send your child to school with a waste

Use modern real nappies on your baby
free packed lunch

10 11

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No No No No
change... change... change... change...
 With the kids
Did you know... Edinburgh pupils are being
encouraged to ‘Finish their Food’ and not be silly
sausages! If your child’s school would be interested in
taking part contact the Waste Education Team.
See page 16.
Wasteful lunches? Send them packing.
Send your child to school with a waste free packed
lunch. This can save you money and is often
healthier too. For your How to pack a waste free
lunch leaflet see page 16.
12
Time for a nappy change? Switch to real nappies
and save a fortune on the ‘bottom’ line.
Modern real nappies are easy to use, reliable
and come in a range of funky styles. Expert
advice is on hand from parents who use them
on their babies. Trial packs and lending kits are
available to help you decide which type is best
for you and your baby. See page 16.
“
Did you know... The average baby uses
enough disposable nappies to fill about
120 black bin bags.
‘Present’ a waste free party.
Use reusable plastic plates, cups and cutlery. If you
don’t have enough, borrow from friends and family.
For a Waste free children’s parties leaflet see
page 16.
To prevent waste, keep some food in reserve rather
than putting it all out at once.
Does your kid’s bedroom look like a toyshop? Ask
guests to buy vouchers for a trip to a local
attraction instead of a present.
Already ticking the boxes?
Use local libraries - For free books, CDs and DVDs. Toy
libraries at the Inch and Oxgangs lend out toys for a small fee
or for free. See page 17. 13
Use charity shops - If your kids have outgrown their clothes
or toys, donate them to a local charity shop. You can
also pick up some bargains when you’re there. Use The
Edinburgh Charity Shop and Reuse Map to help find your
nearest shop. See page 16.
Zero Waste Heroes - Schools are being invited to take part
in the Zero Waste Heroes competition. Pupils will be working
in their homes, schools and communities to reduce the waste
we send to landfill. See page 16.
Real nappies are easy to use and have such a
”
positive impact on the family budget.
- Zoe, Morningside.
 In your community Apply for a Waste Action Grant.

The City of Edinburgh Council offers grants of up to

Did you know... Thousands of good quality items £2,500 to community groups, schools and residents
for projects that will encourage people to reduce,
are thrown away each year, when they could be
reuse and recycle. See page 17.
reused to either help those in need or raise funds
for local good causes. Many charities and reuse
projects offer a collection service for furniture. No garden but want to get green fingers?

The Edinburgh Garden Share Scheme matches

Make a charity shop donation for the feel good people with gardens they can no longer maintain with
volunteer gardeners interested in growing fruit and
sensation! vegetables. See page 17.

Local charities benefit when we support their shops

by buying and donating good quality clothes, Already ticking the boxes?
furniture, toys, books and bric-a-brac. By doing this,
14 Volunteer with The Bike Station - Volunteers run the 15
you help charities to help others. To find out where,
shop, help with the Fix Your Own Bike sessions, dismantle
use The Edinburgh Charity Shop and Reuse Map.
non-repairable bikes, sort, save and stock salvaged parts.
See page 16.
See page 17.

Already a keen composter or real nappy user? - Become

Get on yer bike! Lose weight and gain pounds. a Master Composter or a Real Nappy volunteer to help
spread the word about the benefits of home composting and
Donate that old bike that’s been lying around or using real nappies. See page 16.
buy a reconditioned bike and save some money.
The Bike Station is the only community project
in Edinburgh that repairs and refurbishes
donated and discarded bikes. Refurbished
bikes are sold and provided to community
groups and schools. See page 17.

“
Volunteering as a Master Composter has
allowed me to share my lifelong knowledge of
composting while learning some new skills too.

”
-Ian, Liberton.
 Information and Contacts to Make the South Additional Contacts
Edinburgh Challenge a Success
Edinburgh Garden Share Scheme
The following free information and advice is available on request, 0131 220 7636 www.careandrepairedinburgh.org.uk
or can be downloaded from www.changeworks.org.uk/content. Edinburgh Community Backgreens Association
php?linkid=459: 0131 243 2698 www.ecba.org.uk
Mailing Preference Service
• Compost bin offers
0845 703 4599 www.mpsonline.org.uk
• Composting information
• The Edinburgh Charity Shop and Reuse Map Royal Mail door-to-door opt out
• How to pack a waste free lunch leaflet 08457 950 950 optout@royalmail.com
• Master composter information The Bike Station
• Real nappy information 0131 668 1996 www.thebikestation.org.uk
• Too Good to Waste (The A–Z Guide of Practical Ways to Reduce, The City of Edinburgh Council Waste Action Grants
Reuse, Repair and Recycle)
0131 469 5070 www.edinburgh.gov.uk/waste
• Toy library information
• Waste free children’s parties leaflet Toy Libraries (located at The Inch and Oxgangs)
• Wormery, Bokashi and food waste digester leaflet 0131 664 2746 www.natll.org.uk
• Zero Waste Heroes in schools information Transition Edinburgh South
www.transitionedinburghsouth.org.uk
16 17
Changeworks Contacts Transition Edinburgh University
www.transitionedinburghuni.org.uk
Changeworks Waste Aware Scotland (for reduced price compost bins)
36 Newhaven Road 0845 076 0223 www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk
Edinburgh
EH6 5PY
0131 555 4010
Other Handy Contacts and Information
www.changeworks.org.uk
wastefree@changeworks.org.uk Recycling centres and points
www.sort-it.org.uk
Kitchen Canny Master Composter Project The City of Edinburgh Council recycling kerbside
foodwaste@changeworks.org.uk mastercomposter@changeworks.org.uk
collection enquiries
Real Nappy Project Waste Education Service 0131 529 3030
realnappies@changeworks.org.uk wasteeducation@changeworks.org.uk waste@edinburgh.gov.uk
www.edinburgh.gov.uk/waste
Too Good to Waste Information Service
wasteprevention@changeworks.org.uk
 Doing your bit? I’m doing my bit for the South Edinburgh Challenge
by: (please tick)
Who is Changeworks? Great. Tell us
Reducing unwanted mail Reducing food waste
about it and win a
Home Composting Giving waste free gifts
Changeworks exists to improve quality of life prize! Reusing in the garden Real Nappies
and to protect the environment. We work with
Packing waste free lunches
passion, integrity and in collaboration to
deliver projects, businesses and services to Reducing packaging waste
cut carbon, prevent waste and promote Throwing a waste free party
sustainable energy and transport and support Donating items to charity
people at risk of fuel poverty. Donating items to reuse projects
Go to
Every day we are working with people and http://www. Help me to do more to reduce my waste by 2kg per
communities to make a difference by: surveymonkey. week by sending information about: (please tick)
com/s/wfe or fill in Composting Kitchen Canny
• Increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable sources
this tear-off slip and Real Nappies Compost Bin Offer
of energy Unwanted Mail Toy Libraries
• Preventing waste from going to landfill by reducing, reusing send it FREEPOST.
Master Composter visit Children’s Parties
and recycling
Zero Waste Heroes
• Promoting methods of transport with low environmental impact. Your reply will be
Edinburgh Charity Shop Map
entered into a draw
Wormeries/Bokashi/Food Digesters
to win one of five
18 To find out more go to www.changeworks.org.uk or call us Waste Free Packed Lunches
sets of £25 cinema Too Good to Waste A-Z Guide
on 0131 555 4010. vouchers.
Name: …………………………………………………………..
Twenty runners-up I’d prefer this information:
What else can Changeworks do? will win an ‘Onya’ By email: ………………………………………………………..
bag (a funky, Or by post:
Save money reusable bag). Address: ………………………………………………………..
Help you to have a warmer home …………………………………………………………………...
…………………………………………………………………...
The Energy Saving Scotland advice centre at Postcode: …………………….......
Changeworks is funded by the Scottish Tell us what you think about the Waste Free Edinburgh
Government to provide free and impartial advice project:
about how to stop wasting energy at home. To find
out how you could cut your energy bills by around
£300 each year and reduce your impact on the
environment call us on freephone 0800 512 012.
Changeworks is collecting your data to provide further waste prevention related
information. We retain these details for monitoring and analysis purposes only. We will
not pass your details to any third parties without your prior consent. Please tick this box
if you do not consent to us holding your data. We may want to contact you in the
future regarding other Changeworks projects. If you do not wish to receive information
about other Changeworks projects, please tick this box.
EH6 5PY
EDINBURGH
36 Newhaven Road
Changeworks
Waste Free Edinburgh
Freepost RRAZ-JRER-GZLU
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