Funding Boost For Recycling Initiative
Waste – it’s mine, it’s yours
Housing 21 has marked their successful funding from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) with an official launch of their Green Johanna recycling project.
The leading provider of care, health and housing services for older people has already helped its sheltered housing residents across Sussex reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. The £58,000 Defra funding will allow it to extend the initiative to a further 20 sheltered housing schemes in the South East as well as ten locations selected by project partner, AmicusHorizon.
Joining residents and staff at the launch were green champion Anthea Rossouw, Tayo Bilewu, Director of Property Development and Simon Fanshawe, freelance broadcaster, writer and consultant, who is also a Housing 21 board member.
Encouraged by Anthea, an ex-resident and the driving force who will lead the project, Housing 21 residents have thrown their weight behind the initiative and have halved the amount of waste they send to landfill. The Green Johanna, which is a Swedish composter that converts both garden and all food waste including meat and bones into high-grade compost, has also helped forge community cohesion, with neighbours sharing an interest that they can talk to one another about.
Commenting on the initiative, Simon Fanshawe said: “I was bowled over by this project. It produces beautiful compost, it takes the smell out of the domestic waste and it's a great way of getting everyone in Housing 21 courts to do something together. It was so impressive I am going to try and get it gong where I live!"
The grant from Defra, through their Household Reward and Recognition Scheme, is made available to introduce or trial new schemes that reward or recognise people or communities for adopting positive behaviours towards managing their waste. Housing 21 is working in partnership with Brighton University, AmicusHorizon and Great Green Systems on the rollout of the scheme.
Mark Allum, policy and term contracts manager for Housing 21 added: “This grant is really good news. We know that demand for funding was high and we are delighted that Defra is able to support our sustainability ambitions.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Wendy Gornicki, PR & Information Officer, Housing 21 on 0370 192 4338 or email wendy.gornicki@housing21.co.uk
Housing 21’s mission is to promote independence and choice for older people through quality care, health and housing services. It provides around 131,000 hours of care each week and manages 18,200 sheltered and extra care apartments.
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