Getting involved with waste prevention
Not sure where to start?
Find out how you can get involved in Waste Prevention
Start your waste reduction journey
We all want to do our bit to reduce our waste but starting out on your waste reduction journey alone can be a bit daunting.
Working together within your community is a great way of making a difference as well as meeting new people and learning new skills.
Whether it’s repairing furniture, volunteering at swap events, helping out with promotions or passing on hints and tips to local groups on reducing waste, there are lots of options near you for getting involved.
Waste Prevention Community Champions
Would you like to meet new people, learn new skills and help prevent waste in your local community?
If so, why not join our group of Waste Prevention Community Champions?
Hampshire County Council’s network of Waste Prevention Community Champions are a fantastic group of volunteers who help residents reduce their food and household waste and save money by passing on hints and tips within their local community.
As a Community Champion you will receive full training and access to online and practical resources to help get you started. We also provide dedicated support and regular updates and communications.
Hear why Champion Barbara enjoys the role and what it means to her:
How to apply
For more information email [email protected]. Or complete the application form and email it to [email protected].
Use our A-Z directory to find a Waste Prevention or Reuse group near you
If you know of any groups not included in the A-Z directory, please let us know at: [email protected]
Alresford and Alton
Aldershot
Basingstoke
Farnborough and Fleet
Gosport
Havant and Hayling Island
Hartley Wintney
Lymington
New Forest
Petersfield
Southampton
Whitchurch
Whitehill and Bordon
Resources for community groups
If you’re thinking about starting a waste prevention project but don’t know where to begin, we’ve pulled together some useful links to help you get started.
Repair Cafés
Repair Cafés are a growing global movement where people bring their broken household items along for volunteers to repair. People usually make a small up-front donation whether or not the item is successfully repaired and sit with the volunteer while the repair is being attempted to learn repair skills.
Guidance on setting up and running a Repair Café from Repair Café International
Reusable Nappies Libraries
Reusable Nappy Libraries offer a range of kits, support and advice for parents wishing to trial reusable nappies. The kits are often loaned out to parents for a small fee for a number of months and then returned to the library. There is often an accompanying element of support and advice with the kits, either in the form on leaflets/online advice or meet ups with other parents also using reusable nappies.
Guidance on setting up and running a Reusable Nappy Library from Real Nappies for London
Community Composting
Community Composting is usually defined as a scheme whereby communities come together to compost their suitable household and garden waste and produce compost for an area.
Advice on Community Composting from Norfolk Council
Guidance on setting up Community Composting projects from Carry on Composting
Library of Things
A Library of Things is a collection of household and/or garden items available to loan either free of charge or for a fee to people who require the item for a short period of time.
Guidance on setting up a library of things
Reuse Network
Reuse Network supports charities across the UK to help them alleviate poverty, reduce waste, and tackle climate change
Swap Events
Swap Events are community events where people bring clothes, baby equipment or other small household items to swap.
Community Fridges
Community Fridges are publicly available fridges which store unwanted fresh food from the local area, so it can be passed onto those who can make use of it.
We've produced some posters which can be downloaded for waste prevention themed events or stands.
Planning a project?
If you're planning a project, contact us at [email protected] or on social media. For further ideas or advice.
Join us on Facebook
See us on InstagramPlay Top Chomps!
No one likes to see food go to waste, yet we all throw food away sometimes. Have you ever thought about everything that goes into growing the food we eat? Every time we throw away food, these resources go to waste too. Play our game of Top Chomps to learn more about the resources used in food production, then take action to reduce your family’s food waste.How to play
Select the category on your card which you think will beat the computer’s card. To win, the figure has to be lower than the computer’s!
Round number
Round 1 of 7
Scoreboard
Player score: 0
Computer score: 0
Beef
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Cheese
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Pork
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Chicken
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Eggs
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Milk
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Rice
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Potatoes
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Bread
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Tomatoes
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Bananas
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Apples
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Dark chocolate
Did you know?
Most of the world's cocoa beans are grown in West Africa.
*includes all sweets and chocolate.
Coffee
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Guide to terms
Greenhouse gases = this is the equivalent number of kilograms of carbon dioxide produced to make one kilogram of this food type. Greenhouse gases contribute to climate change which has negative impacts on our environment.
Land use = the number of square metres of land needed to grow or produce one kilogram of this food type. Land is a precious, finite resource that we need to look after. The more land is used for growing our food, the less is available for trees and natural habitat.
Water use = how many litres of water are used to make one kilogram of this food type. Water is another precious, finite resource that we share with the whole world. The more water that we use in food production, the less we have available for drinking, washing and cooking.
Tonnes wasted = this is the amount of this product that the UK throws away each year that could have been avoided: meaning we threw it away because we bought, cooked or served too much, didn’t store it correctly or didn’t use it in time.
Cost = this is how many millions of pounds UK families like yours spend buying this food each year, only for it to be thrown away uneaten.
Education resources for schools
The topic of waste prevention offers diverse learning opportunities, ranging from minibeasts to climate change; from product design to growing and preparing food.
We have put together a selection of existing waste prevention education resources to support learning in schools. Let us know if you have any suggestions to add.
Primary age resources
Food waste
Key Stage 2 lesson plans designed to fit into a half term from WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme).
Food and Agricultural Organisation (UN): Do Good, Save FoodTeaching guides for different ages, including two core lessons and follow-up activities aimed at reducing food waste.
WWF Plant to PlateA waste-focused look at the how we grow, cook and prepare our food. Includes composting and packaging.
Composting
Guides and activities for four hands-on sessions looking at soil, the compost lifecycle and worms.
Waste Awareness, Prevention and Reuse
Presentations and activities which encourage pupils to think about the value of materials and to consider waste prevention and reuse ahead of recycling.
Resource use and design
Downloadable activities exploring how products are currently made and asking whether there could be a better way.
Primary age books available from Hampshire libraries
The Rubbish Monster Thing, Simon Chadwick, 2018
A rhyming story about the actions we can all take to reduce our waste. This book was supported by the Waste Prevention Community Grant Fund.
Yucky Worms, Vivian French, 2015
A closer look at worms and the important role they play in creating compost and aerating the soil.
Zero Waste Kids, Kathryn Kellogg, 2020
30 achievable child-friendly challenges to reduce waste.
Compost stew: an A to Z recipe for the Earth, Mary McKenna Siddals and Ashley Wolff, 2010
A rhyming picture book introducing children to composting.
I can reduce waste, Martha E.H. Rustad, 2020
30 achievable child-friendly challenges to reduce waste.
Secondary age resources
Food waste
Love Food Hate Waste: Powerpoint for assemblies and food waste diary
The presentation can be personalised with your own school information. The diary allows pupils to track their food waste before taking action to reduce it.
Food and Agricultural Organisation (UN) Do Good, Save Food
Teaching guides for different ages, including two core lessons and follow-up activities aimed at reducing food waste.
Waste Awareness, Prevention and Reuse
Presentations and activities which encourage pupils to think about the value of materials and to consider waste prevention and reuse ahead of recycling.
Resource use and design
Downloadable activities exploring how products are currently made and asking whether there could be a better way.
Secondary age books available from Hampshire libraries
Six weeks to zero waste: a simple plan for life, Kate Arnell, 2020
A six week challenge for older pupils and adults.
The True Cost of Technology: How to Shop to Change the World, Mary Colson, 2014
A closer look behind the resources that are needed to build the technology we use every day.
A Teen Guide to Eco Fashion, Liz Gogerly, 2013
This book covers sourcing eco-friendly fashion as well as reuse, repair, recycling and maintaining the life of our clothes.
This Book is Not Rubbish: 50 Ways to Ditch Plastic, Reduce Rubbish and Save the World! Isabel Thomas and Alex Paterson, 2018
50 tips to reduce waste and live a more sustainable lifestyle.
My zero-waste kitchen, Kate Turner, Ruth O’Rourke-Jones and Will Heap, 2017
As well as recipes, this includes tips for shopping, meal planning and storing food.