Sizzle launches Enrich the Earth: a new circular economy collaboration
How can you get the most economic and environmental value from the estimated 14 million tonnes of green and food waste created by UK households every year? How can this material replace peat, safeguarding hugely important lowland peat bogs? Answering these questions requires systemic change and open innovation. This has led to the creation of Sizzle’s first campaign, Enrich the Earth.
Thanks to grant funding from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Sizzle has brought together a unique coalition of over 20 organisations from diverse sectors willing to collaborate to find solutions, learn together and deliver systemic change.
Enrich the Earth aims to create fundamental change in four areas, with impact measured and shared by an external evaluation agency.
Under the leadership of an independent expert, our partners have identified legislative blockers hindering the transition to a more sustainable use of green and food waste they have also suggested new legislation that would enable change to happen at scale. This legislative map will inform policymakers across the whole supply chain.
We will demonstrate that food and green waste can be used as part of the mix to create a more sustainable alternative to peat. In partnership with Durham Council, a new compost mix will be created aiming to contain up to 30% of green and food waste. The compost will be tested with professional and amateur growers to measure effectiveness across plant types and growing conditions.
There are often highs level of contamination, particularly plastic, in food and green waste. The cost of cleaning this material is estimated to be around £50 million per annum to the waste industry and it significantly devalues green and food waste. Trials in the Northeast of England will assess different ways to reduce this contamination.
Green and food waste is heavy and of low value. As a result, transporting it has a high carbon impact. The best solutions are local, which is why we are promoting a composting revolution: encouraging people and organisations to effectively compost what they can in their homes, workplaces and communities.
Enrich the Earth launches on 14th September with a focus on the Northeast of England. In support of this announcement, Enrich the Earth has:
Created a Manifesto highlighting the steps required to deliver systemic change
Built a coalition of organisations in the Northeast committed to delivering regional change. This work is supported by Pam Jose, our local community worker.
Partnered with Durham County Council using their composting site as the base for regional trials.
Collaborated with a range of influencers including James Wong and Daisy Upton who have created social media content highlighting the joys and benefits of composting and wormeries.
Produced a short video explaining the campaign to share with wider audiences
As Enrich the Earth evolves it will:
Seek to build a growing movement of organisations committed to supporting the campaign.
Release the results of research into legislatives blockers and opportunities.
Detail steps taken to reduce contamination in green and food waste, revealing the impact this has delivered.
Share stories from a variety of gardeners on how they have found the transition from peat encouraging others to learn from their endeavours.
Create a new compost mix with a significant percentage of green and food waste, illustrating that it is an effective sustainable option for growers.
Enrich the Earth will initially run for 18 months. Our ambitions during that period are to:
Demonstrate to local authorities and waste companies that they can get greater environmental and financial value from the green and food waste they collect enabling them to deliver a local circular economy solution.
Inspire individuals and organisations to get involved by participating in a composting revolution and reducing the level of contamination in the green and food bins.
Ensure there is supportive legislation making it as easy as possible for the whole supply chain to effectively participate.
If our ambitions chime with your work, please do get in touch by emailing hello@sizzle.org.uk and we can discuss how best to get involved with Enrich the Earth.
If the Sizzle approach could be beneficial to a challenge your organisation is facing, then please email trewin@sizzle.org.uk as we are currently considering our next major area of activity.