The projects range from local composting initiatives and a paint re-use scheme, to purchasing recycled (or sustainable) materials for a major arts display.
Carl Beer, Director of MWDA, said: “There was a great response to the Fund and we received a wide variety of initiatives, ideas and imaginative projects. We were very happy with the calibre of applicant and will be working closely with all the successful schemes to make sure they have as big an impact as possible.”
The funding is MWDA’s Waste Project Fund for Community Organisations 2007/08. The scheme was launched in December last year and under the guidelines a project must:
– Encourage sustainable waste management e.g.:
o review/reduce carbon footprint;
o mitigate against climate change, and/or
o aid tonnage diversion or raise awareness on waste prevention.
– benefit the local community and Merseyside
– make a lasting improvement to the local community and neighbourhood and have the support of local people.
Cllr Kevin Cluskey, Chairman of MWDA, said: “All of these schemes can make a real impression. What shone through on the applications was the enthusiasm and commitment to make a positive change to the environment and an awareness of what is happening to the world around us.
“MWDA will now work with the successful applicants and hopefully we will see not only a reduction in the amount of waste being produced in the region, but also a change in attitude towards waste and sustainability.”
Project details:
Bootle Allotment Ltd – the Bootle Garden Allotments on Dunnings Bridge Road has received funding to construct a compost and recycling green-waste bay. Leaves, grass and other cuttings will be put in the bay to be composted, and then will be used on the allotment as green manure.
Halewood Arts Association – working with the local Junior Artists Club, the Halewood Arts Association will create a mosaic from sustainable materials and items. The design will be based on issues of recycling and climate and then displayed in a public park.
Harthill Allotment Association – the funding will be used to purchase a rotating composter which will reuse vegetable matter and sawdust. By recycling nutrients back into the soil it will reduce the demand by allotment holders for commercial compost, mulch, soil conditioners and fertilisers.
The Moss Lodge Community Restorative Justice Environmental Centre – this former haulage yard in St Helens has been transformed into a community environmental centre. The funding received is for purchasing compost bins which will help to compost flowers and tributes from local cemeteries and crematoriums. The compost will be used to improve the soil at the site, to allow plant and shrub growth.
Meadow/The National Wildflower Centre – Meadow is an award-winning project which has been working with schools and communities to raise awareness of plastic recycling since 2005. The MWDA funding will be used for part of a larger project, namely a series of workshops and events to promote a film about recycling.
Rotters Community Composters – a locally run not-for-profit community based organisation. The grant will go towards an education project which aims to raise young people’s awareness and involvement in waste and recycling issues. Rotters will help schools to introduce composting schemes by providing teaching resources, workshops, support and guidance, free or subsidised composting equipment and an organic waste collection service.
Urban Strawberry Lunch: Lunch at St Luke’s – this ongoing project aims to rescue the disused space of St Luke’s church in Liverpool city centre to provide an original, practical and welcoming community meeting place. Cleaned up and opened in May 2007, the funding will be used to carry out further renovation work at the former church.
Wirral LA21 Community Repaint – a non-profit group who are involved in collecting leftover paint and distributing it onto local charities, voluntary organisations and community groups for redecoration projects. It is estimated that over 80 million litres of paint is left unused in the UK every year. The funding will be used to further promote and expand the service.
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