Politicians Show 'Waste Awareness'

Drinking tap water instead of bottled water, or donating old clothes are just some of the simple proposals that make up the new 'green charter' just accepted by Belfast politicians.

The councillors have signed up to the 'Waste – Time for Action' charter in order to protect the environment by acting as a example to the rest of the citizens.

Councillor Pat McCarthy, Chairman of the council's Health and Environmental Services Committee, explained the council had been working hard over years to promote the 'reduce, reuse and recycle' message, and this is their way of showing that they 'practice what they preach'.

Coinciding with European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) - from 21st to 29th November - Belfast City Council will try encourage shoppers to sign up to its pledge during a roadshow around shopping centres.

As another part of EWWR, the council has also organized another of its successful 'Stitch and Style' fashion events, (pictured) in Ten Square Hotel in Belfast this Wednesday (25 November).

The event, firstly staged as part of Belfast City Council's annual Waste Week, recently picked up a national Green Award for Best Green Event.

Waste -Time for Action is a ten point list and includes - for example - making a shopping list to avoid food waste, borrowing or hiring tools, buying in bulk or choosing the largest option or using rechargeable batteries

Although the amount of waste people in Belfast are generating has fallen by almost five per cent in the last six months, every week people are still throwing away 'busloads' of recyclable waste – enough to fill more than 100 double-decker buses, they said.

According to Cllr McCarthy, in our world people think nothing of going out and buying a new TV when there's nothing wrong with the old one; or throwing out clothes instead of repairing them.

"We want to educate people and instill a sense of awareness about how we can try to reduce the amount of waste we're generating, thereby saving money and helping the environment," he said.

The council's Waste Week also scooped a Green Apple Award as an example of environmental best practice.

(CL/BMcc)