One of the most common environmental actions taken by rotarians is to reduce waste & pollution within our environment. This can be done at the individual level, with many rotarians seeing the picking up of litter as part of their civic responsibilities. Virtually all rotarians, and most of the general public for that matter, have taken action to reduce the waste of domestic energy & other resources in order to reduce household expenditure. In recent years many have linked this ‘common sense’ reduction of waste to the urgent need for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and lowering of an individual’s carbon footprint. It seems likely that most rotarian action against waste & pollution is carried out at this individual-household level. Please continue such important work!

FOOD WASTE

Many rotarians have taken individual action to reduce waste in their own homes. This includes food waste. In March 2021 Cheam & Sutton Rotary Club had the ZERO FOOD WASTE Week. Members there suggested the following tips on how not to waste food:

• Leftovers from Joints of meat are used again the next day in an alternative dish, a curry or a stew
• Rotten bananas are reused to make Banana Cake
• Regularly check your food cupboards so we are clearer on what stocks you have and what you need
• Freeze excess bread to toast and eat later
• Let family members serve their own meal portions, then save leftovers. These are good for lunch the next day
• Freezing some excess foods in a container, or even an ice cube tray is useful. Examples are whisked eggs, garlic which is peeled and made into a paste, herbs which are covered with a little olive oil and grated ginger
• Cravendale milk has long “use by” dates and ensures milk is not wasted
• Use excess potatoes, which can be deep-fried and simmered for use in curry (Dum Aloo) or in bubble and squeak or in fishcakes – especially if you have leftover fish too
• When small amounts of vegetables are left over, grate them and use them to make patties, eg, courgette patties. Or add eggplant into pasta sauce
• Dry leftover fresh mint or basil to use later
• Apple peels and cherry stalks make good tea
• Another tip to help avoid food waste is to sign up to Olio or TooGoodToGo, where you can give away spare food to someone in your neighbourhood, or purchase discounted groceries or takeaway food that would otherwise be thrown away by the shop. You need to download their mobile app
• Feed old bread to the ducks!!!
  There must be at least one tip here new to every rotarian!

Check out this site for some facts on food waste: https://olioex.com/food-waste/food-waste-facts/

REMOVAL OF POLLUTING WASTE

One of the most common environmental actions taken by rotarians is to reduce waste & pollution within our environment.  This can be done at the individual level, with many rotarians seeing the picking up of litter as part of their civic responsibilities.

Many Rotary clubs have undertaken occasional action to remove litter from beaches, riverbanks, or indeed any place where humans scatter their rubbish.This is any easy project that any Rotary club could undertake.  Click here for examples from several Rotary clubs.

For some Rotary clubs the issues of waste reduction, recycling and removal has become a regular, longer term project. In such cases clubs are likely that they will seek partners with similar aims in order to be more effective. Click here for some details of District 1070’s Plastics Initiative programme, which already has 10 Rotary clubs involved.

While some Rotary clubs are looking at litter, waste & pollution in general for a specific area, others are concerned with one form of pollution everywhere. A good example of the latter is the international “End Plastic Soup” campaign which many Rotary clubs are supporting. There are now a wealth of resources concerning plastic available to rotarians, so click here for some details to help your club get started with this campaign.

ENERGY WASTE

Virtually all  rotarians, and most of the general public for that matter, have taken action to reduce the waste of domestic energy & other  resources in order to reduce household expenditure.  In recent years many have linked this ‘common sense’ reduction of waste to the urgent need for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and lowering of an individual’s carbon footprint.  It seems likely that most rotarian action against waste & pollution is carried out at this individual-household level.  Please continue such important work!

REDUCING USE OF PLASTIC

Becton Rotary has embarked on this project to reduce the number of plastic carrier bags used for deliveries by a local food bank, New Forest Basics Bank, each week. We aim to do this by helping New Forest Basics Bank to increasingly use bags made from recycled fabric which can be returned, Covid-quarantined and re-used.

To ensure these fabric bags are fit for purpose, they have been designed in conjunction with the New Forest Basics Bank based on their experience over thousands of deliveries

A set of instructions and accompanying pattern has been produced and tested, and it is therefore important that the measurements quoted (metric or imperial) are followed as closely as possible.

Watch the video below to see how to make a Becton Bag using the instructions and pattern.

This pattern can be used to make bags for personal use or as a Rotary project.  Any reduction in use of plastic bags will help make our environment a cleaner and safer place for us all to live in.