Dunbar is Scotland’s first Zero Waste Town, but what is it all about? What actually is Zero Waste and what is a Zero Waste Town?
Zero Waste, What Does it Mean?
Zero Waste is about using our resources more efficiently. In a Zero Waste society the ‘waste’ we create is reduced, designed and utilised as a resource that can be re-used, recycled or composted, rather than useful and valuable resources being sent to landfill. It is an aspiration, something to drive towards and aim for.
In 2010 the Scottish Government introduced Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan. This plan sets ambitious measures including waste prevention and sets a 70% recycling target by 2025. Zero Waste Scotland supports the delivery of the Scottish Government’s Zero Waste Plan.
Zero Waste is a journey and, as Scotland’s first Zero Waste Town, Dunbar is taking steps along that journey.
So What Does Being a Zero Waste Town Mean?
First things first, does it mean we create zero waste? No.
What becoming a Zero Waste Town means is that we will be working, as a community, to minimise our waste to landfill and maximise the benefits of re-use and recycling in the local area. Taking steps along the journey toward Zero Waste.
Zero Waste Towns is a new Zero Waste Scotland programme which aims to ‘recognise collective efforts from residents and businesses to reduce waste, recycle more, and use resources efficiently’. Following a successful proposal, developed by Sustaining Dunbar, the local community and businesses, Zero Waste Scotland have awarded Dunbar and District the recognition of being a Zero Waste Town, Scotland’s first Zero Waste Town.
With funding and support from Zero Waste Scotland over the next two and half years Zero Waste Dunbar hope to work with the local community and businesses to develop and implement initiatives and projects through the Zero Waste Dunbar programme. These projects will aim to realise the benefits that reduced waste, increased re-use and recycling and more efficient use of resources can bring to Dunbar and District.
Through consultation with the community and businesses during the development of Dunbar’s successful proposal several projects were identified to achieve this aim. These were shared here.
As Zero Waste Dunbar is a new project we are at the first stages of putting this proposal into action. Over the next few months we hope to work the local community, businesses and schools to develop the Zero Waste Dunbar programme. We will look in more detail at the proposed projects and together develop and implement initiatives to take steps along the Zero Waste journey.
As Scotland’s first Zero Waste Town we will lead the way and look forward to sharing successes and learnings with future Zero Waste Towns.
This is a journey that Dunbar and District will share and achieve together. Please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and our website to keep up to date. You can also contact the Zero Waste Dunbar team via zerowaste@sustainingdunbar.org and 01368 866920 or pop into the Sustaining Dunbar Office, Station Yard, Station Road, Dunbar.