In the wake of last year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), which made such a mark on news headlines, the environment has become increasingly important to our residents.
They are more aware than ever of the impact of their actions on the planet, and that includes the waste they produce.
If residents want to help the planet (and make savings for councils while they are at it), the best thing they can do with their waste is to not produce it in the first place. Reuse and recycling all play a major part too – but if it’s not there in the first place, it’s not a problem.
Which is why, in Surrey, we’re trialling a scheme to incentivise residents in one borough to reduce the amount of waste they produce.
Rethink Waste is available to residents of Elmbridge, one of 11 local council areas in the county. If successful, it will be rolled out to residents across the rest of Surrey next year.
Rethink Waste is centred on an online platform that encourages waste reduction through targeted communication and behaviour change techniques. Residents sign up to the scheme online to earn points, and are given a personal dashboard and sent weekly emails. These enable residents to take part in activities, online and offline, that can help reduce waste when they are at home and when they are out and about.
Content includes videos, quizzes, blogs, pledges, a zero-waste map and lots of tips, advice and resources on how to reduce waste. Dashboards also show the amount of carbon savings residents have made through their actions.
“Collectively, small differences can make a big impact”
Once activities are completed, residents are rewarded with points that can be used to enter competitions, with prizes including iPads and TVs or donations to charities or local community groups.
Residents can also donate points to one of 10 primary schools in Elmbridge that have signed up to the scheme. At the end of the trial, the school with the most points will be awarded a cash grant to deliver a project that benefits the local environment.
The trial will be evaluated primarily by measuring the amount of waste produced by Elmbridge residents while the scheme was running and comparing it with a corresponding period to see the difference it has made.
It is predicted that a 1 per cent reduction in residual waste (rubbish) will lead to the project paying for itself, in addition to the environmental benefits it will bring.
The 12-month trial is being delivered by Greenredeem, an organisation that provides digital engagement platforms and behaviour change mechanisms that can support and complement existing websites and climate change initiatives.
It has had success with similar schemes in other areas in of the UK, and is being supported by Elmbridge Borough Council.
We know that collectively, small differences can make a big impact. Residents can all do more to reduce their waste. With the right knowledge, encouragement and incentives, we hope that Rethink Waste will be a catalyst for Surrey to start seeing waste tonnages head in the right direction – downwards!