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• Eco-Challenge
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• Real Nappy Project
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• Compost Doctor
• City Composting
• Shire Composting

Background

Background
The Eco-Challenge was originally devised as a joint project between Aberdeen Forward and Aberdeen City Council. The project was initiated to raise awareness of the impact that everyday life has on the environment and to help communities take action to live greener lives by reducing waste, saving energy and cutting back on unnecessary travel.

The aims of the Eco-Challenge are as follows:

1. Waste reduction
2. To reduce waste produced by the households which goes to landfill by 50%.
3. On average, to improve the recycling rate of the 100 households by 25%.
4. To introduce home composting or kerbside collection of green waste to 75% of households.

Energy reduction
Half of participating households to have one or more energy saving measures carried out on their homes during the two years.
For an average of the 100 households taking part, to reduce their energy consumption by 20% over a two-year period.

Travel improvements
Each household to see a 15% reduction in the total car mileage per person per week.
All journeys less than 400 metres (800 metres round trip) that do not involve carrying luggage or heavy shopping to be undertaken on foot or bicycle etc rather than by private car.
In those participating households from which children are taken to school by car, an alternative to the car to be used at least twice a week.
Current single-occupancy car commuters to use an alternative at least twice a week (this could include sharing with a friend, using a bus etc).
For participating households to become familiar with bus routes and bus frequencies in their area.

General
To raise general environmental awareness within the communities.
To hold a minimum of 6 community meetings in each area.
To provide links with the city council and other organisations to enable the communities to lobby effectively for new facilities/change.
To produce a website/web pages on the project for community use.
To produce a toolkit for use in future communities.