In our new campaign for Spring 2024, we’re talking rubbish!
We want to see food waste collection offered to everyone in Leeds. That would help every household do their bit to reduce emissions and create a more sustainable food system.
This week a new fund was announced by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to help local councils get food waste collection off the ground. Our ask will be for central government to make this funding available as soon as possible, to deliver on their promise to get food waste collection up and running by April 2026.
Over £6.5million will be available to Leeds City Council in this scheme – and we want to help them use those funds wisely! So, alongside this national ask, we’ll be contacting local councillors in communities around the city to inform and encourage them to make sustainable decisions about food waste.
Our friends Compost-It have all the facts and figures, and are collecting food waste right now from homes in some neighbourhoods in Leeds to redistribute to local composters for local growers to use. Their expertise will be critical for councillors to make informed decisions about how to use this new funding.
So – what can you do?
We’ll be meeting over the next few months to craft together on this issue. The plan is to make thoughtful gifts to send to DEFRA, and to our local councillors, to encourage them to make this vision a reality.
If you want to join in, craft two small pieces of food (no bigger than a postcard) out of yarn, felt, paper – anything you like! Send one to us by 3rd June to include in our national ask to DEFRA, and attach a small tag with a personal message about why you want food waste collection.
The other, you can gift to your local councillor. We’ll be creating informative postcards for councillors about the benefits of composting, with space for you to add a personal message, to include with your crafted gift.
Our aim is to send one gift to every councillor in Leeds. If you come to one of our gatherings, we’ll make sure you get a postcard and stamped envelope to send – all you need to do is craft.
Come along on the 8th April, 13th May and 3rd June to add your voice to our rubbish campaign!
Check out these links for ideas of what you might craft:
Crochet Pumpkin – https://pixeledpeach.com/2016/10/19/free-pattern-pumpkin-amigurumi/
Knitted Apple – https://www.naturalsuburbia.com/2011/07/apple-knitting-pattern-tutorial.html
Felt Strawberry – https://breadandbuttons.typepad.com/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Strawberry%20Tutorial%20word.pdf
Felt Donuts – http://oneinchworld.com/blog/index.php/2008/12/felt-lettuce-tutorial/http://www.ikatbag.com/2013/03/confections.html