Reduce, reuse and repair

Every year since 2019, we have run the Zero Waste challenge, and we are doing the same for 2022 to run the entire month of September.

This year, the goal is to reduce your non-recyclable waste as much as possible and to save money by following the tips, and attending our events.

With the support of fellow challengers; the aim is to help foster zero waste habits you can continue with even after the challenge.

After registering, we will provide you with resources to help you go zero waste, including:

• a starter pack and guide
• daily challenges
• invitations to workshops and events

You will have to report your progress each week so you can track how you get on and to be in with a chance of winning a prize, including the grand prize of £50 credit to borrow at the Library of Things.

With the cost of living crisis, why not take on the challenge and discover how going zero waste can save you money and win you money.

Step 1 – register by 31 August

The challenge kicks off on 1 September 2022, so make sure you register before Wednesday 31 August and submit your baseline data. It’s completely free to take part and you are welcome to join by yourself or involve your whole household. Keep an eye on your emails. We will be in touch to provide guidance for minimising waste and a tool to track your waste reduction.

Register

Step 2 – submit your baseline data

Before starting the challenge, we need data on how much you or your household currently waste. This will provide a helpful comparison to see how much you have reduced during the challenge and help keep track of how you are getting on. After registering, we will provide the form to submit baseline data within the starter pack.

Step 3 – challenge yourself to waste less

Our focus is on minimising the amount of non-recyclable waste that ends up in the rubbish. Following this year’s theme, we want you to reduce how much you consume, especially single-use.

Reuse as much as you can through refill, repair, renew, and try to recycle everything else.

After registering, we will keep in touch to provide guides and daily challenges as well as information on how to get involved in events, including the launch event on Thursday, 1 September.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay updated on the challenge.

Step 4 – submit your data

At the end of each week, take photos and note the amount of non-recyclable waste you have produced. Submit your results by completing the online form, which we will send via email throughout the month when it is time to submit data.

You can also email your photos to greenerhackney@hackney.gov.uk or share your #ZeroWasteHackney tips with @GreenerHackney on social media to help inspire others.

This challenge is open to Hackney residents only.

You must submit the final results by Monday, 3 October. We will contact winners via email on Monday, 10 October.

Hackney recycles nearly 28% of its waste, but we could be recycling a lot more. Recycling more and sending less waste to be incinerated is one way we can reduce our impact on the planet.

Are you recycling everything you can? Double-check this handy A-Z for recycling in north London. If you don’t already recycle your food waste, you can give our food waste recycling service a go.

If you already recycle a lot, why not explore low-waste living – like rethinking the way you use single-use disposable items. You could start with simple tasks, like switching from shampoo bottles to bars or buying loose fruit and vegetables instead of packaged ones.

You can donate just about anything:

• garden tools, items and plants
• household items and kitchenware
• books and toys
• bikes and accessories
• clothes and textiles
• bric-a-brac, arts and crafts
• small furniture, mirrors and frames
• small electrical items and tools

VHS tapes, CDs and DVDs, large furniture including mattresses and white goods won’t be accepted. All small electrical goods will be safety tested on the day.

Clothes and accessories and shoes must be clean, wearable and undamaged.

You can repair:

• electrical items
• bicycles
• textiles

Sign up to our mailing list or follow Greener Hackney on social media:

• email recycling@hackney.gov.uk
• Greener Hackney on Facebook
• Greener Hackney on Twitter

You can donate:

• clothes (any kind, all styles)
• shoes (paired)
• accessories (ie bags, scarves, hats etc)
• linen (ie curtains, towels, bed sheets)

You cannot donate:

• no duvets or pillows
• no overly damaged or stained clothes

Clothes and textiles in good condition will be donated and sold for re-use in charity shops.

Items that aren’t suitable for donations can be recycled and made into new items, such as padding for chairs and car seats or industrial blankets.

This means your unloved clothes will have a second chance in a new home.

Our partner charity, TRAID, offers a free home collection service for unwanted clothes. You might choose this option if you’ve recently had a clear out or have a large number of unwanted clothes to donate. Your home collection will be scheduled for a time to suit you.

Book a free clothes home collection

• Sunday 25 September, 11am to 3pm, The Fixagon, Penn Street, N1 5FD
• Sunday 23 October, 10am to 3pm, Venue TBC

We’ll be running these events in partnership with LoanHood.

Restyle and exchange clothes, extend the life of your unworn clothes, and reduce the amount of clothing that gets thrown away.

Rolling drop and swap – you will be able to drop and swap all day, so from 11am to 3.30pm you can drop and swap your items.

Once you give us your clothes we will categorise them and give you tokens in return.

Browse the rails and use your token currency to exchange for new preloved items.

You can only swap if you have dropped items during the drop period.

Anything you once valued or will be valued by someone else. If you’d give it to a friend, you can bring it?

• women’s, men’s, and children’s clothes, accessories, and footwear
• clean and good quality
• free of faults or minor repairs
• no underwear or swimwear
• we can refuse any items

Do not bring more than 5 items.

Items are assessed and categorised based on recommended retail price (RRP) and condition. This will dictate how many tokens you can swap:

• 1 x token – preloved under £50 RRP
• 2 x token – preloved over £50 RRP and in great condition

The Seam will be on site all day to help with alterations and there’ll be clothes repairs and customisations sessions.

Learn more about the sharing economy, how you can make money from what you already have, and how to reduce your impact on the planet. Join Loanhood for one-to-one guidance.

With over 90 Refill stations in Hackney, refilling your water bottle for free has never been easier. Simply download the app, find your local Refill station and get fresh drinking water on the go. Save money, stay hydrated and prevent plastic pollution at the source by using the free Refill app, or look for the Refill droplet in shop windows.

Visit Refill.

We’ve teamed up with Plastic Free Hackney to run sessions targeting residents on a low income to help them ditch single-use plastic products and make their own low-cost and plastic free cleaning and toiletries products.

Visit Plastic Free Hackney.

We’ve teamed up with GetComposting to offer discounted home compost bins.

Composting is a natural process that transforms waste from your kitchen and garden into a nutrient-rich food product for your garden. It’s easy and inexpensive and compost can be used in gardens and green spaces to improves soil’s condition.

Order a compost bin

If you’re interested in composting at your school, this free guide could help you:

View composting at school guide (PDF 1mb)

We can also advise you on setting up a school composting scheme. Contact us to find out more.

Around 85,000 litres of rain falls on the average house roof every year – collect it in a water butt and you can have your own mini reservoir for watering your garden. 

Order a water butt