Community-Led Initiative Transforms Waste Habits Across Merseyside
A pioneering community-driven project that empowers local residents to reduce waste, repair everyday items, and develop sustainable skills is being rolled out across Merseyside with support from the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority's Zero Waste Community Fund.
Funding and Regional Impact
The Reclaim & Sustain Project, managed by the community organisation Friends of Bowring Park, has received a grant of £26,920 from the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) and Veolia Zero Waste Community Fund for 2025/26. This funding is dedicated to identifying the most effective strategies for cutting down household waste in the region.
This regional effort encourages Merseyside residents to reconsider their approach to waste through an innovative 'test and learn' methodology, fostering long-term behavioral change.
Hands-On Workshops and Skill-Building
The project has conducted a series of practical reuse and repair workshops in Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, and Wirral, helping residents minimize waste while acquiring valuable hands-on abilities.
Sessions have covered a diverse range of topics, including:
- Food waste prevention: Exploring creative methods to utilize leftovers and implement proper food storage techniques.
- Bicycle repair: Instructing families on maintaining and fixing bikes to encourage active, environmentally friendly transportation.
- Clothing repair: Testing sewing and upcycling methods to prolong the life of garments and reduce textile waste.
- Electrical repair: Tackling electronic waste through workshops focused on repairing small appliances and IT equipment.
By engaging participants through interactive workshops, awareness campaigns, and practical demonstrations, the project has investigated successful ways to boost reuse, repair, and recycling rates while shifting negative attitudes toward repair culture.
Community Feedback and Celebration Event
Oisín Hennessy, project manager at Friends of Bowring Park, expressed enthusiasm about the project's outcomes. "We're absolutely delighted with how Reclaim and Sustain has gone and incredibly proud of what the project has achieved," he said. "It has meant so much to our team to see local people getting involved, learning new skills and growing in confidence."
"Seeing the positive impact on families across the region - from saving money to keeping valued items in use - has been really powerful and shows just how important community-led sustainability projects can be," Hennessy added.
A celebratory event, the Fix It Festival and Zero Waste Celebration, was held at Bowring Park on Saturday, March 7. This free gathering highlighted the project's achievements and featured repair and reuse workshops on food waste prevention, bike repairs, electrical items, and clothes repair, along with family-friendly activities.
Leadership Perspectives on Environmental Benefits
Lesley Worswick, chief executive of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, commended the initiative. "Projects like Reclaim and Sustain show the real difference that community organisations can make when they're given the resources to deliver locally," she stated.
"By supporting practical repair, reuse and waste-prevention activities, this project has helped residents take simple, positive steps to reduce waste while building skills that last. It's a great example of how the Zero Waste Community Fund helps deliver meaningful environmental and social benefits across our communities," Worswick concluded.
The project underscores the potential of community-led efforts to drive significant environmental improvements, promoting a culture of repair and sustainability that benefits both residents and the broader Merseyside area.
