The Waste Management Section at Isle of Anglesey County Council held activities on Anglesey last week to encourage us to reduce waste. They hosted talks and litter picks at community groups in Beaumaris and Holyhead, holding a school ‘swap shop’ at Ysgol Llanfairpwll.
“In addition to explaining our waste collection service to residents it is important discuss waste reduction, provide helpful information and practical activities,” says Jonathan Eastwood, Acting Chief Waste Management Officer at Isle of Anglesey County Council.
Volunteers from Canolfan Blaen y Coed in Llangoed picked up litter at Lleiniog Beach Car Park, Llangoed with the Isle of Anglesey County Council team, PSCO Jan Hughes from North Wales Police and Gareth Owen from Keep Wales Tidy. Canolfan Blaen y Coed is a recourse centre providing opportunities for adults with learning disabilities.
Students from Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi / Holyhead High School and Plas Cybi Communities First carried out two litter picks in the Kingsland and Mill Bank areas of Holyhead working with the Isle of Anglesey County Council team and Gareth Owen from Keep Wales Tidy.
Ysgol Llanfairpwll worked in partnership with the Isle of Anglesey County Council Waste Management Section to organise a School Swap Day. The idea of the day was for children to bring an unwanted toy, book or DVD into school and they could swap it, taking home something for free. This minimises waste as items are swapped and reused, not thrown away. Over 500 items were swapped on the day.
During the European Week for Waste Reduction you could try forming some new waste reduction habits which are better for the environment.
The Council’s 10 Top Tips are:
1. Remember to shop with a reusable bag, pop one in your handbag, car or by the door
2. Plan your meals for the week to avoid food waste
3. Avoid packaging by buying large-size, in bulk or choose unpackaged products
4. Drink tap water
5. Start composting in your garden
6. Donate old clothes to charity shops, pop textiles in the red recycling box or use the purple Tyddyn Mon clothes collection points
7. Buy rechargeable electronics or refillable products
8. Limit who uses the printer and reduce the amount you print
9. Repair furniture and appliances
10. Borrow or hire tools
“We have recently, 20010/11, reached the top of the table with some of the highest recycling rates in Wales, recycling 54% of our waste thanks to the support of residents. But we need to focus on the 46% of waste still going to landfill. If we adopted some of these suggestions we can reduce our waste,” adds Jonathan Eastwood.
To encourage residents on Anglesey to reduce their waste a to a community group or swap shop school event can be arranged, please contact the Isle of Anglesey County Council Waste Section on 01248 752860 to discuss.
