WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Plan)
WRAP is an organisation that works to help business and individuals reduce waste, develop sustainable products and use resources in an efficient way. There are several tips and hints on how to reduce waste and recycle, including electrical items, which could save you money. For further information visit the WRAP website: www.wrap.org.uk
Refuse disposal arrangements
Kitchens will be provided with recycling bins. Refuse is to be stored in the bin areas provided and will be emptied by the local authority once a week.
For more information and to arrange a visit from Newham Council, call 020 8430 2000 or email [email protected]
Further information regarding refuse disposal arrangements can be found on the Newham Council website: www.newham.gov.uk
In addition, there are waste & recycling centres in the local area. The centre closest to Chobham Manor is: Jenkins Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre, Jenkins Lane, Barking, Essex, IG11 0AD.
Tel: 0800 389 9918
Opening Hours: 7.30am–5.45pm Monday to Sunday.
Please visit Newham Recycling Collections to find out what materials you can and can’t recycle.
Bulky Refuse:
You must telephone the London Borough of Newham to arrange collection of all your bulky household refuse, e.g. old beds, fridges, large packaging material, etc.
Tel: 020 8430 2000
Freecycle:
For any items you may not want to throw away, visit freecycle.co.uk where you can share unwanted items or access other people’s unwanted things for free.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs are organic chemicals that easily vaporise at room temperature. There are several day-to-day household items that contain VOC’s, and some research suggests that indoor VOCs can trigger asthma and other respiratory problems.
Paint, stains and other decorative finishes are covered by legislation that requires they don’t exceed set limits, and are labelled to indicate the VOC content. More information on the labelling of products containing VOCs can be found at the following website: www.coatings.org.uk.
The best health protection measures your exposure to products and materials that contain VOCs when possible.
Some steps you can take to reduce your exposure to VOCs in the home are:
- Remove or reduce the number of products in your home that give off VOCs. Natural paints and natural cleaning materials are a much healthier alternative. These products are either completely free of VOCs or have a smaller quantity of VOCs contained within them. For more information visit the following website: ecover.com
- Ventilation and climate control can be used to reduce exposure of VOCs
Sustainable DIY
This section is about the choices we make in our everyday lives to protect our environment and recommends using environmentally green alternatives which will make a real lasting difference.
- Reuse DIY materials: recycling helps to protect the environment but also encourages your imagination to create new measures that can help save you some money. For more information, visit the websites: recycling-guide.org.uk.
- Use sustainable products: source any new materials from certified sustainable resources. For example, ensure any wood products you buy carry the logo of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which indicates that it has come from responsibly managed forests. For more information, visit fsc.org.
- Avoid products that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- VOCs are chemicals used in many DIY materials and cleaning products that can easily evaporate into the air and affect indoor air quality. Avoiding products containing high VOC levels is becoming easier as the range of green products available is expanding. Green suppliers use natural, biodegradable ingredients that are harmless both to us and our environment. They also offer advice and information on the products and their use. For more information, visit ecover.com.
- Tool sharing: there is a tool sharing scheme that is being operated at Chobham Mobile Garden.