Share, Repair, Reduce, Reuse

Whether we like it or not, we live in a consumerist world. Walk into any shop and you will see aisles of products packaged in single use plastics, as well as many disposable or ‘short-life’ goods. We are constantly being encouraged to buy more than we really need. Our homes are filled with many items that end their days in land-fill (here or abroad), incinerators or in our rivers and oceans

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Here in the South Hams there are a number of projects run through our community groups and companies whose volunteers clean up some of this waste, run re-use and recycling projects and also encourage residents and visitors to consider alternatives when purchasing products. 

Hopefully some of the projects on this website may provide ideas and inspiration.  Many established groups will be more than happy to talk with you about setting up your own project and may be able to share resources to make it easier.  Why write a Risk Assessment from scratch when you can probably modify one that is already written?

If you have a project that fits into this category but isn’t listed here please ‘add a project’ so that we can share the good work you are doing. 

Get in touch with Ben Bryant, our Saving Earth Resources Mentor, for any further information or advice on ben@sussh.org

News

How can Councillors in South Hams Help Climate and Nature?

How can Councillors in South Hams Help Climate and Nature?

Sune Nightingale, Chair for Dittisham Parish Council and Energy Mentor for Sustainable South Hams gave a keynote presentation at the Symposium on practical ways that councillors can assist their local community groups and provide support for projects taking action for climate and nature.

October 25, 2024
Collaboration at the Climate and Nature Symposium

Collaboration at the Climate and Nature Symposium

The Climate and Nature Symposium for South Hams Councillors held in Totnes on 16th October, saw group leaders and councillors gather to find ways to collaborate for climate and nature.

October 23, 2024
Shareshed Saves More Than 275 Tonnes of Carbon

Shareshed Saves More Than 275 Tonnes of Carbon

Shareshed, the world’s first mobile library of things, has so far saved more than 275 tonnes of carbon with their innovative borrowing scheme.

September 25, 2024

Groups

Sustainable Kingswear

Sustainable Kingswear

Focusing on immediate and longer term infrastructure changes, including encouraging electric vehicle use, a community energy scheme, and addressing light pollution. Also working on community schemes, such as encouraging households and landowners to support wildlife, community composting and a Library of Things.

5-20
Volunteers
Parish Council working group
Project Cost
Sustainable Harbourne Valley

Sustainable Harbourne Valley

Supporting nature-friendly gardens and households; talks/discussion programme; supporting management of churchyards & playing fields for nature; Fruit Corner (community fruit trees/wildflowers); micro tree nursery; seed/plant exchange stall; Sow Grow Show food growing project; Give & Take reuse & exchange day; engagement with local school; supporting river monitoring.

5-20
Volunteers
Community Association
Project Cost
Transition Town Totnes

Transition Town Totnes

Transition Streets - a community-focussed initiative supporting social cohesion, carbon reduction, and energy saving; Incredible Edible Totnes - supporting local and accessible food growing in public spaces; Totnes Climate Hub - a public space for creating community support and local responses to our global challenges; REconomy Project - a project inspiring economic regeneration locally; Time to Breathe - a meditative space for personal wellbeing support

20-100
Volunteers
Charity
Project Cost

Projects

Run a Composting Scheme in Your Community

Run a Composting Scheme in Your Community

The Marsh is a thriving community compost group open year-round

Volunteers
Project Cost