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In a broader sense, our goal is to foster a transformation in attitudes, behaviors, and awareness regarding waste and consumption. This transformation will be facilitated through a variety of engaging activities, including:

  • Sessions dedicated to clothing repairs and alterations

  • Sewing and stitching classes

  • Entertaining Swap Shop events

  • Vibrant fashion shows

  • Distributing food parcels to vulnerable families

  • Interactive cookery sessions

  • Engaging DIY upcycling workshops

  • Informative ‘Composting’ and ‘Wormery’ workshops

  • Educational visits to recycling centers

  • Participation in the Edinburgh Climate Festival

  • Carbon Literacy Training

  • Peer to Peer Programme

  • Climate Hero Programme

  • Nature Regeneration related activities and more

  • and many more!

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We’ve cultivated strong relationships with the Polish, South Asian, Chinese, and African communities over time, due to ELREC’s well-established connections. These communities are particularly well-represented in Edinburgh’s demographic landscape, and it’s with them that we collaborate closely to drive this initiative forward.

Our impact & achievements

Our Communities Reduce Reuse & Recycle Project – jointly delivered by ELREC, NKS & SCOREscotland, is celebrating the past years’ amazing accomplishments!

Last year the project engaged with over 10,724 people from ethnic minority (EM) communities and delivered 520 climate related events & activities, saving a total of 45,544.43 Kg from heading into landfill. Additionally, the project benefited from the dedication of 173 volunteers who actively participated throughout its duration, volunteering over 5,000 hours. 

For this, we would like to extend our heartfelt thank you to everyone who got involved for all your essential dedicated support!

Year 2023 – 2024

people engaged
0
2
activities
0
458265082_828566109479160_1570407728528699302_n
volunteers
 
0
467980937_884464873889283_518424832221410071_n
volunteer hours
0
452007149_798622402473531_4311986180290457071_n
collabora-tions
0
465890215_873527171649720_3223285041667673830_n
kg waste redirected
0
466416638_877566417912462_4611588557518177461_n

*from landfill

You can read our reports here:

. 2023 / 2024
. 2022 /2023

To realign ourselves with nature’s equilibrium, we need to start working together. Climate change is affecting us all, and everyone has a role to play in taking climate action.

To truly end our contribution to the climate crisis, we need to rethink how we consume in Scotland and around the world. 

Approximately 80% of Scotland’s ecological footprint can be attributed to the production, utilisation, and subsequent discarding of products and materials.

The evidence is clear. Consumption in Scotland is unsustainably high.

Did you know?

  • About 80% of Scotland’s carbon footprint is originated from the production, utilisation, the frequent disposal of goods, materials, and services, often after just a single use.

  • Each Scottish household contributes over a ton of waste annually, yet a substantial portion of this waste could be minimised, repurposed, or recycled, playing a role in shaping a net zero nation.

  • In the year 2020, household waste in Scotland surpassed 2.4 million tonnes, but only 1 million tonnes were recycled. The remaining waste was managed through landfill (650,000 tonnes) and incineration (750,000 tonnes), encompassing recovery and co-incineration processes, as well as other management methods.

  • In the City of Edinburgh, an average of 381.34 kg of household waste per person was generated in 2020, contributing to approximately 0.95 TCO2e per individual.

  • A resident of Scotland presently consumes resources equivalent to what three planets could provide. Yet, we have only one planet at our disposal.

Reasons to reduce, reuse and recycle:

  • Energy and resources are wasted whenever an item goes to landfill

  • Raw materials are a limited resource – we might not always be able to replace what we throw away

  • Less landfill means less pollution – and a cleaner, greener Scotland

  • Waste costs – for example, Scotland’s avoidable food waste alone runs to more than £1 billion a year.

Join us in the fight against climate change and work towards constructing a world that is both fairer and more sustainable for all!

Let’s unite our forces to implement a circular economy in Scotland, ensuring that everyone is part of the green transition!

To engage in our initiatives, kindly reach out to us at c3r@elrec.org.uk or check us out on social media platforms!

If you’re enthusiastic about climate action and interested in volunteering with us to support the implementation of sustainable activities, please submit your volunteer application to c3r@elrec.org.uk.

Get in touch

The project would not run without the help of the amazing ELREC team and our funders! Thank you very much for all your support!

“Super inspiring workshops, encouraging people to live in a more eco-friendly way. It certainly contributes to improving my awareness of waste segregation and minimizing the creation of new ones.”
"The Carbon Literacy Training was really insightful! I often find talking about the current climate situation quite depressing so it’s really nice to be learning with a much more optimistic outlook and having named actionable steps I can take personally."
"It is lovely to be in a friendly and enthusiastic group of people cooperating together to learn how to grow our own food and nurture our environment."
"The Sewing Club is not just about sewing; it's an opportunity for interaction, fun, and learning. We also delve into cultural education, and most importantly, we develop relationships that feel like family."
"It's so important seeing so many like-minded individuals working together to create a better society through events like food support, climate festivals, and swap shops, I feel greatly motivated and decided to carry on the same spirit throughout my life."
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Project news

We are hiring: Event Officer for Edinburgh Climate Festival 2025

•
29 November 2024

Event Officer – Edinburgh Climate Festival 2025 Freelance Position: Event Officer £15/hour – 7 hours/day – 1 day/week (Hours might be split in 2 days)/ Fixed-term contract: 23 days – £2,415/ End of January start, running to mid-July 2025/ /Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund   …

C3R Project 23 /24 report – read all about this year’s accomplishments

•
27 November 2024

Our Communities Reduce Reuse & Recycle Project – jointly delivered by ELREC, NKS & SCOREscotland, is celebrating the past years’ amazing accomplishments! Over this last year the project engaged with over 10,724 people from ethnic minority (EM) communities and delivered 520 climate related events & activities, saving a total of …

Edinburgh Climate Festival – Volunteer Appreciation

•
3 September 2024

This past Friday, 30th August, we celebrated our hard working volunteers with an appreciation event held at Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh. We joined together with a group of this year’s Edinburgh Climate Festival Volunteers to enjoy a sunny afternoon together with a nature appreciation art workshop & team picnic. The event …

Edinburgh Climate Festival 2024

•
19 July 2024

Edinburgh Climate Festival 2024     This past month we celebrated yet another successful edition of the Edinburgh Climate Festival. We were joined by a fantastic variety of local climate related organisations as well as creative individuals looking to share conversations and be inspired by climate action. The day was hosted …

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