Gateway Road Reuse and Recycling Centre is now closed.
The UK's 1st trial of an electrical repair voucher scheme and community-powered food waste project will each receive £100,000 thanks to the revamped North London Community Fund.
Following a thorough evaluation process, North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has awarded large grants to The Restart Project, in collaboration with ReLondon, and Octopus Community Network after the fund was split into two stages for the first time.
They will both deliver waste reduction interventions with a behaviour change focus over a two-year period, aiming to reach north London communities not currently participating in pro-environmental behaviours.
Since launching in 2017, the North London Community Fund has awarded 61 organisations with funding across the boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest. The grants facilitate community cohesion, drive sustainability education and ultimately aim to reduce household waste. More than 30 groups across the seven constituent boroughs are set to receive support over the next two years.
Chair of NLWA, Councillor Clyde Loakes MBE, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us to work in partnership with established organisations and the communities they serve in a more collaborative way, coming together to shape projects and their outcomes over a longer period of time. Once again, NLWA is at the very forefront, pushing boundaries to support pioneering approaches to waste reduction and minimisation. With our new tiered approach now committing a total of £250,000 every year to projects of all sizes, it highlights our commitment to supporting ambitious waste prevention initiatives on the ground to deliver lasting change.
“With food making up a third of all residual waste collected in north London and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) containing precious metals being depleted at an alarming rate, we asked applicants to focus on these waste streams, and were impressed with the innovative ideas put forward. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their creative approaches to promoting resource efficiency and minimising climate impacts.”
NLWA has encouraged collaboration throughout the application process, with The Restart Project set to partner with ReLondon and the growing networks of borough community and voluntary local repair groups. Its trial repair voucher scheme for electricals will aim to address waste issues, foster community resilience and support businesses.
Co-Director of The Restart Project, Fiona Dear, said: “We’re delighted, thanks to funding from NLWA, to get the opportunity to trial a repair voucher scheme in London. Other countries have found that repair vouchers are a popular measure which directly benefit citizens and local repair shops. And they’re effective at getting people into the habit of repairing. We look forward to seeing these benefits in north London.”
Circular Economy Advisor for ReLondon, Rachel Singer, said: “Repairing our electrical and electronic devices is an effective way to reduce waste and prevent the need to buy new items, but cost can be a major barrier for many Londoners. So we’re thrilled to partner with The Restart Project and North London Waste Authority to trial this innovative voucher scheme that will lower the cost of repair at select high street repair shops.
“This is the first time that a scheme like this will be trialled in the UK, and it’s really exciting to see London spearheading the repair revolution. The project holds significant potential to unlock economic, environmental and social benefits across the capital, and support London’s efforts to become a global capital for repair.”
Octopus Community Network will provide an innovative approach to food waste recycling on council-maintained housing estates in Islington by supporting residents to make connections with growing food and composting.
Development Manager for Octopus Community Network, Julie Parish, said: “Securing funding through the NLWA’s ‘North London Community Fund’ will help us collaborate with like-minded people and organisations to transform how people think about food waste. We will be focusing on food waste upcycling, shifting behaviour and mindsets away from throw-away waste to create rich organic matter that improves soil in which communities can come together to grow food.”
