Rethinking our use of resources

Waste

We live on a planet with finite resources. Each new item of clothing we buy, every electronic upgrade and even the food we eat requires vast amounts of these resources to be used.  There is also the vast sums of energy (usually in the form of fossil fuels) required for producing products and shipping them around the globe.

What we do locally matters. We need to rapidly rethink how we use and dispose of these products, by shifting from a linear economy to a circular economy – where those precious resources are used in the most effective way and for as long as possible.

Litter pick

As Mayor, I will aim to become a zero-waste borough by 2030, acting decisively to reduce the amount of waste Hackney produces and will rethink material usage wherever possible. Where it is absolutely necessary to dispose of waste, I will move towards doing this in a way that is more sustainable and responsible than the current system of incineration.

I will:

  • Lead by example and remove single-use items from council-run cafés and facilities
  • Ensure council procurement is as efficient as possible in all sectors, to reduce waste to a minimum
  • Offer business rates discounts to encourage shops, cafés and restaurants to cut down on single-use packaging
  • Bring a Library of Things to every ward in Hackney, to enable residents to borrow useful household items
  • Set up, promote, and support reuse and repair hubs across the borough
  • Expand the council’s food waste composting scheme to include all homes
  • Work with residents to to increase recycling rates on estates
  • Crack down on commercial fly-tippers and increase awareness and access to house bulk waste collection
  • Continue to oppose the rebuild of the Edmonton Incinerator, listen to residents and experts about the harmful effects of burning waste, and work for a solution that is better for the climate and public health

My Plan For Hackney

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