Local initiatives
In this section:
Reuse pilots: Cardboard waste | Reusable Pizza Boxes | Reuse incentives in a cafe | Reusable lunchboxes for community meals
Reuse Pilots
Addressing cardboard waste on Skye
Cardboard for SME’s is a huge issue and it is estimated that three quarters of a small business’s waste comes from paper and cardboard.
Broadford & Strath Community Company are working towards reducing business cardboard waste in Skye, Lochalsh & Raasay. The aim is to make sure that cardboard is being reused as much as possible and sign-post businesses to resources so they can reduce, reuse and recycle their cardboard waste. This will help reduce carbon emissions, reduce waste going to landfill and could save money for SME’s in the area.
In 2023, Broadford and Strath Community Company hope to introduce cardboard shredders, alongside existing industrial composting systems already in the Skye & Raasay areas to help create a more circular system for businesses & organisations that participate in the project.
A questionnaire has been produced to gather as much information from businesses on their cardboard waste which can be accessed here.
Project lead
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One of their main focuses will be on supporting businesses to reuse and reduce cardboard waste through reuse and recycling, including linking into brown waste for community composting.
Fiona Gallie, Broadford & Strath's Community Waste Officer has been speaking to Melissa Macdougall from Scottish Removal Services, based in Broadford, about her business’s eco-friendly practices when it comes to packaging, especially cardboard reuse, and how householders can reuse their cardboard at home.
Reusable pizza box pilot on Skye
Broadford & Strath Community Company are looking into options for reducing packaging waste in the form of pizza boxes at their campsite and with local businesses.
When there is a predictable pattern i.e. camp dwellers regularly taking pizza away from the same businesses, there is an opportunity to implement a reuse scheme. The pizza can be provided in a reusable box, that can be returned to the business upon the next visit.
Project lead
Promoting reuse in a small cafe, Inverness.
Velocity Cafe & Bicycle Workshop in Inverness is working to promote reusable takeaway packaging in their cafe. The aim is to normalise reuse among customers, demonstrate the viability of reusable options and encourage other local businesses to follow suit.
Project lead
Our very own Partner, Velocity Café and Bicycle Workshop has been working to promote reuse to their customers. Measures have included retailing reusables, implementing a charge on single-use items, all underpinned by strong messaging and communications.
Reducing single use containers in a school, Thurso.
Thurso Community Development Trust, has teamed up with Thurso High School to run a pilot project offering merits and prizes for reducing waste from single-use packaging.
The new project will support the school to provide food containers for hospitality classes in line with the Cost of the School Day Programme, an initiative that seeks to mitigate the impact of financial inequality.
Project lead
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Meal Service Reusable Packaging Pilot in Thurso
In September 2023 Thurso Community Development Trust launched a pilot project to introduce reusable packaging to their Meal Delivery Service. This pilot project aims to reduce the carbon footprint and wastage from the service. They used to deliver both a main course and a dessert in biodegradable tubs, in a disposable paper bag, which resulted in significant amount of single-use packaging items being sent to landfill. They wanted their service to not only to be convenient but also environmentally friendly, so they looked for a better solution. They chose reusable plastic containers and reusable thermal insulated bags as an alternative.
Project lead
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Thurso Community Development Trust (Thurso CDT), part of the Highland Community Waste Partnership launched a pilot to introduce reusable packaging to the Meal Delivery Service they run. The pilot aims to reduce the carbon footprint and wastage from the service. Thurso CDT wanted their service to not only to be convenient but also environmentally friendly, so they looked for a better solution.
Sharing libraries for single use items
Another way that Partners are addressing single-use waste locally is by creating 'sharing libraries' in their communities, of reusable alternatives to common single-use items -such as reusable cups, cutlery and crockery for events.
To learn more about how these work visit the Share & Repair section of the website by clicking on the link below.
