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Community action

Ideas for action you can take in your local community to reduce, reuse and recycle.

When it comes to reducing rubbish, your local community is a great place to start. The more we can share ideas and resources, the more we can all benefit and keep useful items away from disposal.

Community centres and public areas might have talks on how to reduce waste. They may point you towards local organisations that can help. Look out for posters in public places or your local paper to find out what's on and how you can get involved.

Action in your community ideas

Become a plastic free community

Plastic free communities are a network of community groups led by Surfers Against Sewage. Visit Plastic Free Communities website to start, join or register your community.

On completion, your community will gain plastic free accreditation.

Join the Refill revolution

The Refill Return app works by letting people know where they can eat, drink and shop with less waste. Anyone can download the free Refill Return app to find local refill stations near them. 

Community groups can play a huge role in increasing reuse and refill in your area. Join one of Norfolk's fantastic Refill schemes or start a new one. 

Norfolk Refill Schemes:

Visit www.refill.org.uk for some ideas on how you can get involved:

 

Sky lantern and balloon releases

Join the Norfolk campaign and pledge not to release balloons and sky lanterns from your community group or premises. Find information on the sky lanterns and balloon release charter on www.norfolk.gov.uk.

Reuse ideas for the community

Reusing items that you already have is a great way of reducing the rubbish mountain. Why not give these community ideas a go?

Hold a 'give and take' day

Invite people in your local community to donate their unwanted, reusable items. People can take away things they want without having to buy them.

Host a 'swishing' event 

Swishing is the term for swapping your old, unloved clothes for different ones.

Organise a garden produce swap day

Do you grow your own fruit and vegetables? Do you always end up with too many of one type of vegetable and wish you could swap it for something else? A swap day is for you!

Hold a jumble sale or a car boot sale 

Everyone loves a clear-out and a bargain.

Organise a 'knit and natter'

Arrange a group to mend and repair clothing or to create new items.

Community fridges

Learn more about community fridges.

If you would like to set up a community fridge in your local area Hubbub has created a 'how to' guide.

They have also created the community fridge network. This connects all community fridge projects across the UK. You can exchange advice and get support.

Reduce litter

If we work together we can make Norfolk a cleaner county. There's plenty of ways you can help.

Organised litter picks

Local councils can offer advice and information. They can also provide equipment such as hi-viz vests, litter pick sticks, hoops and sacks. They can arrange collection of the rubbish following your litter pick. Contact your local council.

Help prevent beach litter 

Broken and unwanted beach toys can get lost in water and end up as litter. One item which causes problems in Norfolk is flying rings. These can get caught around seals and cause them injury.

Communities can help to reduce beach litter and save our seals
  • Visit your local council website and take part in their beach litter campaigns
  • Create a beach toy box, for people to place their unwanted beach toys
  • Sell solid frisbees instead of flying rings in shops and beach kiosks

 

Set up a community composting scheme

Learn about community composting

Set up a local recycling collection and get recycling credits

Norfolk County Council pays recycling credits to not-for-profit organisations who collect recyclable materials. Learn about recycling credits on www.norfolk.gov.uk.

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