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Residents are being encouraged to adopt smart kitchen and shopping habits as part of a new campaign to tackle the climate crisis by reducing food waste in Leith.
Leith’s Good With Food, a new campaign from Zero Waste Leith, encourages the local community to shop smart, cook just the right amount and use up or share any leftovers.
The campaign is delivered by leading environmental charity Changeworks as part of the Zero Waste Leith project, with funding from the European Regional Development Fund.
Food waste is one of the top contributors to greenhouse gases – and throwing away food waste means you’re throwing away money too. Right now, 60% of the food we waste in Scotland could be avoided, and that’s something the campaign is looking to change. If food can’t be reused, it can be turned into energy through Edinburgh’s kerbside food recycling service.
The campaign kicked off with a launch event at the Leith Walk Police Box yesterday.
Hannah Milne, Zero Waste Leith Co-ordinator at Changeworks said: “Leithers are already leading the way towards zero waste in Scotland and now they are adopting food waste savvy habits in their kitchens, shops and streets with our new campaign, Leith’s Good With Food.
“Our team of volunteers gave out our new Good with Food kits which contain tools, tips and recipes to help Leithers avoid food waste and a kitchen caddy for collecting food waste recycling.”
The campaign is modelled on the successful anti-flytipping campaign, Flyspotting, which featured portraits and messaging from local Leithers and halved flytipping in ten test streets surrounding Dalmeny Street Park.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Environment Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council said: “Food waste is a big greenhouse gas emitter, but it’s something households can tackle easily and help make a real, positive contribution.
“All food waste collected in Edinburgh goes to our state-of-the-art facility at Millerhill to be converted into energy – just one food caddy can generate enough electricity to power a TV for five hours!
“I welcome this new campaign from Changeworks and look forward to even more people getting into the food waste reduction and recycling habit.”
Scotland’s Deposit Return scheme will give industry, business and individuals the opportunity to drive sustainable economic growth while reducing their impact on the environment. according to a new report.
The wide-ranging social and economic benefits of the proposed scheme were published yesterday. Continue reading Deposit Return Scheme will drive a circular economy
Discover comfortable, practical living in a space created entirely from beautiful and affordable reused and upcycled furnishings. Our things have value and this showhome is the ideal place to see that in action. Continue reading Reuse Showhome opens it’s doors at Ocean Terminal today
Residents get involved in Changeworks’ anti-flytipping campaign, resulting in a 44% reduction in unwanted items being dumped on local streets. Continue reading Leith ‘Flyspotting’ campaign leads to dramatic drop in flytipping
Edinburgh residents are invited to take a fresh look at reused furnishings when they view the beautiful items displayed in the ‘Reuse Showhome’ in Leith this weekend, hosted by Changeworks, Quay Community Improvements and local reuse organisations. Continue reading Reuse Showhome to pop up in Leith
Friday 1st June from 9am – 12 noon
Unwanted items collected FREE
Leith residents are being invited to become ‘flyspotters’ as part of a new campaign to reduce the dumping of rubbish on local streets led by environmental charity Changeworks. Continue reading ‘Flyspotting’ campaign launched in Leith
There’s an old expression that ‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch’ Well, think again! Environmental charity Changeworks is hosting a free lunch on Sunday 6 May 2018 made from food that would otherwise have gone to waste. Continue reading Feeding 1000 bellies, not bins, across Leith!
Households given expert advice in bid to be energy smart
Scores of residents in and around Edinburgh are set to benefit from free insight and advice on their energy use, as part of a smart technology research initiative.
Sensor technology that helps consumers to use less gas and electricity – and potentially save on energy bills – has already been successfully installed in 100 homes under the research initiative from the University of Edinburgh and Changeworks.
Organisers are now seeking a further 150 households from Edinburgh and the Lothians to take part in the scheme, known as IDEAL – Intelligent Domestic Energy Advice Loop.
Participants have discreet sensors fitted throughout their homes, which track how much gas or electricity is used, as well as, room by room, the temperature and humidity.
The system gives feedback to help households find convenient ways to save energy, and participants are provided with a tablet to track their usage.
Scientists will use powerful computers to analyse large volumes of data from the study, to inform the development of sophisticated smart meters. These could track energy use in detail, offering personalised insights into how electricity and gas use might be reduced.
To participate, volunteers should live in Edinburgh or the Lothians in postcode areas EH1-EH55. They must have broadband, a combi boiler and mains gas supply.
Helen and Mark, from Leith, took part in an early trial of the project. Mark said: “We had a hand-sized sensor fitted in each room and soon forgot they were there. We were surprised by some of the findings. It was really interesting to see what pushed up our bills.”
Drew Murphy, IDEAL project manager from Changeworks, said: “Smart technology allows participating households to see, in pounds and pence, how much gas and electricity they are using. Project findings will inform how we can use technologies, such as smart meters, to enable households to make changes in how they use gas and electricity to lower their energy use and bills.”
Dr Martin Pullinger, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics, said: “With support from volunteers across Edinburgh, we hope to inform the design of smart meters that could offer personalised, itemised details of gas and electricity use, helping to lower consumption, reduce household bills and cut carbon emissions.”
To find out more and become a participant, see changeworks.org.uk/projects/
