I’m a Zero Waste Granny so combining catching up with my grandsons, a cycling adventure and  Zero Waste seems obvious!  After time with my family in Vietnam, I’ll be cycling from Hanoi over the mountains to Luang Prabang in Laos, a distance of 750km, to catch up with more family members.

Ever worried about piles of waste in poorer communities around the world?   While volunteering in the Pacific and Central Africa,  I feel sad and powerless at the scale of the issue:  around 1 in 3 people globally don’t yet have decent waste management yet systems.

WasteAid’s work to change this, community by community, inspires me. I’ve made a choice to offset my air miles through a donation to  WasteAid and I’m hoping my cycling journey will raise awareness and funds to support this UK non-profit organisation.

• From my research, I know that waste minimisation practices can be relatively simple to implement, improve the environment, create jobs and protect public health.  WasteAid has been helping people recycle their way out of poverty since 2015, sharing waste reduction know-how and skills with deprived communities that seek advice and support.
• Plastic pollution in the marine environment scares me. WasteAid works with upstream and coastal communities to set up small recycling centres to keep plastic out of rivers and the oceans. 
• I respect how WasteAid keeps things simple and relevant, maximising value to local communities, and ensuring local markets for any products made from recycled materials.
• For me reusing organic waste is key. WasteAid shares skills in how to manage organic waste with local trainers so knowledge gets passed on from community to community.
• I also respect the way WasteAid is focusing on low cost equipment.  In the viability of a recycling start-up in a deprived community, $10 makes a big difference. Simple plastics recycling kits can support people to clean up their environment and make some cash in the process.
• I’ve chosen to help fund this inspiring work.  Pethaps this ride inspires friends and family to make a donation and spread news of WasteAid’s work? I hope so.

Already I’m hearing people I know now connecting with the work of WasteAid. It  w

warms the heart of this cycling Zero Waste Granny!

#whenwethrowitawaythereisnoaway

#togetherweareone