Oxfordshire setting a European example
From Oxfordshire to Austria, Flanders and France, a whole programme of activities took place across Europe last week as part of the third annual European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR). Running from 19 to the 27 November 2011 the week aimed to engage large numbers of European citizens about the simple actions that they can take in everyday life to help reduce waste.
This year was the biggest yet with over 7000 actions planned in 20 countries; doubling the success of last year.
Oxfordshire Waste Partnership (OWP) acted as one of only 34 European coordinators in order to make sure the county is well represented on a European stage.
Eiles Robinson, waste reduction officer from the county council heads the coordination. She says: “We’ve taken part in this important week since it started and this year we were asked by the organisers to take on this important task. Cutting waste is important to us so we were happy to take a lead role in highlighting it to others.”
Various awareness-raising actions will take place in Oxfordshire and across the continent simultaneously. Focusing on waste reduction, better production and consumption, local events will show simple ways that individuals can play their part.
Chairman of OWP Cllr Lorraine Lindsay-Gale says: “It’s great that so many people will be doing something for this European week; helping to put Oxfordshire on the map. With recycling levels across the county at an all time high, our next step is to look at how much waste we’re producing in the first place. Less waste will make us an ever greener county.”
Among other events, Community Action Groups in Oxford, Wantage and Clifton Hampden held workshops over the weekend on ‘making Christmas gifts,’ ‘recycled jewellery’ and ‘homemade wreaths with a difference.’
