Waste & Resources

Saving resources and reducing waste

In January 2017 TTT formed a new theme group with a focus on community led solutions to reducing waste and recovering wasted resources.

With local authorities suffering budget cuts year on year it is unlikely there will be many major service improvements to household recycling collections for the foreseeable future. So it’s over to grassroots community action to see what more we can manage to recycle and moreover reuse, repair and upcycle. In short how can we rethink resources?

The group also explores how local businesses might be able to get support to help them recycle in a more cost effective way. How can one business’s waste become another’s raw material? The concept of a circular economy is very real. EU MEPs voted unanimously in 2016 to bring circular economy principles into being, with targets to reduce production and manufacturing waste by 2030 across member states. Post-Brexit, will our own government grasp the opportunity? How can circular economy principles take hold locally? The ‘take-make-dump’ model is not sustainable on a finite planet. How can we build to last, or be reused, repaired or recycled and re-entered into the production of new items. There is plenty already happening in the community but even more that could be done to join up projects and get people thinking about consumption and buying ‘stuff’.

Ben Bryant is the current facilitator of the group, along with Jay Tompt.  Ben has over ten years’ experience of the recycling industry locally and is currently the Co-ordinator of Devon Community Recycling Network.  Jay heads up the REconomy Centre.

You do not need great expertise or experience to get involved; it’s open to anyone who wants to do something to address wasted resources. Please email Ben (info at dcrn.org.uk) if you would like to help kick-start more Community Recycling action here in Totnes.

The group will be looking into the viability of community composting locally, as well as application of Biochar with compost to sequester carbon back into our degraded soils. Also investigating whether a Community Resource Centre or Reuse Depot could become a reality to store local resources and materials and save Totnesians money. So come one and all, please join in and lend your vital support.

Email info at dcrn.org.uk for more information. For dates of the next meetings, please look at the calendar.

Totnes Jumble Trail

We've held two exciting Jumble Trails in Totnes, coordinated by Emma Croft. A Jumble Trail is a coordinated day of individual jumble sales. Would you like to coordinate the next one? Get in touch! info at dcrn.org.uk

Useful Links

The ReStore, Dartington - local reuse/recycling/skills initiative

Devon Community Recycling Network (headed up by Ben Bryant, based at the REconomy Centre)

Devon Community Composting Network (headed up by Nicky Scott)

Devon recycling - what can be recycled in Devon and where

South Hams recycling - what can be recycled in the South Hams and where

Reuse and repair initiatives in Devon (headed up by Emma Croft)

Share Shop - a library of things for Totnes, being led by the Network of Wellbeing

Jumble Trail network