Engaging your community or staff in sustainable action

Our websites provide a wealth of information for you and your community.

• Zero Waste Scotland - the home of all Zero Waste Scotland content and resources
• Love Food Hate Waste Scotland - this site is managed by WRAP, though Zero Waste Scotland support delivery of the campaign in Scotland
• Zero Waste Partners - a dedicated area for community groups, businesses, local authorities, educational establishments and individuals trying to spread the word, to download resources such as posters, toolkits, leaflets etc.

Also check out Circular Communities Scotland who we partner with for lots of support around reuse and repair.  

And our social media channels host great content that you can share. 

• Facebook:
  • /ZeroWasteScotland
  • /LoveFoodHateWasteScotland
• X (formerly Twitter):
  • @ZeroWasteScot
• Instagram
  • @Howtowasteless
  • @Lovefoodhatewastescotland

The following are some of the resources we have on offer and ideas for monthly themes;

Why not consider having a different theme each month with associated social media, events, talks and challenges.  Here are just a few suggestions;

January - A great time to engage people when finances might be tight post Christmas.  Keep Britain Tidy run 'Buy Nothing New' month and provide useful resources to help promote the theme. 

February - Not an official campaign but why not make February a 'Say no to fast fashion' month.  Did you know that clothing accounts for nearly a third of Scotland's carbon impact.  So promote reuse and repair of clothes, buying second hand, donating, renting, repairing and swapping of clothes are all easy and effective actions.  

March - March is normally 'Food waste action week'.  WRAP manage this and normally provide a wealth of useful resources.  You could;

• Encourage everyone to complete Zero Waste Scotland's food waste reduction online course
• Get hospitality businesses to sign up to the One Month Challenge
• Have a look at our educational resources for schools

March/April - Keep Scotland Beautiful's Spring Clean Scotland is normally around this time.  Why not organise a litter pick and take the opportunity to promote litter prevention.  There are education resources and a campaign toolkit available online.

May - How about 'Movie May'?  There are so many great films out there which can be a powerful way of educating and motivating people.  Check out the many movies available online - some  are free, some have a charge, but there is often a discount for community organisations.  And why not have a discussion following the film about how your community can take action.

June - June 16th is 'World Refill Day'.  But let's make it World Refill Month.  Let's encourage encourage everyone to use their refillable cups, bottles and tubs.  Ban single-use at your events, take you refillable cup when you go out for a coffee and visit your local refill store.

July - July is 'Plastic Free July'.  There are lots of great resources on the website, or why not encourage your community to do a plastics audit.  Get them to collect all their single-use plastics for a week in one place and take a photo of it.  Then make a plan for how to reduce it.

August - Cycle to work day tends to fall around this time.  Consider holding a cycle to work day in your community.  And make the most of the opportunity to promote renting or buying second hand bikes, repairing and donating them.  Circular Communities Scotland have a network of reuse organisations - many of whom sell or collect bikes.    

September - Recycle Week tends to fall in September.  Check our website for details of what's happening each year.  It's also 'Second hand September' run by Oxfam - a great opportunity to promote the benefits of second hand, and the many options including freecycle, freegle and online selling platforms and charity/reuse shops. 

October - October is home to 'Unbloktober' - a month to save our sewers and seas by raising awareness of what NOT to put down our drains.  'Environmenstrual' week is normally in October too - raising awareness of the damage caused by single-use menstrual products and highlighting the many alternatives.  And lastly, October tends to be the home of 'International Repair Day' - a chance to encourage everyone to repair instead of throwing things away.  Why not highlight local repair facilities or organise a repair cafe.  

November - November is where you'll find 'European Week for Waste Reduction' - a week focussed on reducing and reusing.  Each year there is a different theme.  Communities are encouraged to host events and/or campaigns during the week and register them on the EWWR website. 

December - A time when a lot of focus is on Christmas and over-consumption.  But it also provides a great opportunity to promote sustainable alternatives such as;

• Buying second hand gifts or experiences
• Sustainable gift wrapping
• Food planning to avoid too many leftovers

• Recycling whatever can't be avoided or reused.

   

Feel free to get in touch with Zero Waste Scotland for support in using any of these materials, or to check if we have anything you need but can’t see here: Communities@zerowastescotland.org.uk