Food waste is a monumental issue impacting our environment and communities, but we’re tackling it head-on with our exciting initiative: Waste Not, Want Not!
What's Happening?
We’ve joined forces with local groups such as Clonakilty Tidy Towns and the Clonakilty Community Resource Centre to bring this vision to life. This project involves everyone—individuals, farmers, businesses, and clubs—making it a true community endeavor.
Our goal is to inspire and support local stakeholders who are eager to make a difference. Check out the Food Waste Champions who have emerged in Clonakilty to lead by example and motivate others.
Our ultimate aim? To transform Clonakilty into a model community for others to emulate, demonstrating that collective action can lead to significant change.
Why It's Great
By tackling food waste together, we’re not only promoting solidarity but also making substantial changes at critical points in the supply chain. Our end goal is to create a comprehensive guide that other communities can follow to replicate our success.
Waste Not, Want Not Champions
What is a food waste champion - well, take a look HERE
From the beginning, we have given everyone in the community a voice, the result has been dynamic buy-in from everyone. From individuals, to farmers, hotels to cafés, we have been blown away by the level of ingenuity and enthusiasm for food waste solutions.
If you want to be inspired, or even get a few ideas, then check out our Champions page HERE
Here are just a few examples of what our Champions have been up to:
🌳On July 6th, we teamed up with Clonakilty Women’s Shed to run a stall at the Clonakilty Old Time Fair. We engaged with passersby about ‘rediscovering traditions’ to reduce food waste and co-produced a free mini-cookbook of classic ‘old time’ recipes, focusing on the thrifty use of leftovers.
🌳All of the food stalls in Clonakility's Farmers Market have agreed to accept reusable cups, tubs, lunch boxes, and shoes (OK not shoes) in a bid to reduce packaging waste.
🌳Five venues in Clonakility have all signed up to host Green Weddings! This will have food, and waste reduction at its core.
🌳Cafés, restaurants, and takeaways in Clon, are signing up to stop using sachets (so small and yet so wasteful) this campaign will have such a positive impact on food waste and pollution.
🌳Key local retailers have pledged to cut down on unnecessary packaging, and have signed up to accepting customers' reusable lunchboxes/cups/shoes (sorry, couldn't resist).
How People Can Get Involved
This month (July), we’re calling on everyone in Clonakilty to participate in various initiatives with simple, impactful actions:
- Bring Your Own Container: Refill at the Clonakilty market.
- Get Creative with Leftovers: Use recipes from our mini-cookbook made with the Women’s Shed.
- Start an Apple Share: Organize in advance if you have a fruiting tree to share with a neighbor or friend.
- Be Mindful of Sachet Use: Notice your use of ketchup, mayo, butter, etc., and ask for alternatives.
- Get a Brown Bin: At your home and office. Visit Mywaste.ie for more information and printable bin segregation posters to help keep all your waste properly sorted.
What’s Next?
We’re planning a fabulous lineup of events and workshops for the autumn, and we’ll share more details next month.
Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s make Clonakilty a shining example of community-driven change!
For more information and to stay updated, follow us on social media and keep an eye on our website. Let’s show the world how Clonakilty can lead the way in reducing food waste!
Join the Movement!
Remember, every small action counts. Please donate and help us to continue our great work in Clonakilty, and in our other projects around Ireland.
By participating in the Waste Not, Want Not initiative, you’re contributing to a larger cause. Together, we can create a sustainable future for Clonakilty, and inspire other communities to follow suit.
