WI do their bit for the environment
Charles Clover, The Telegraph 6 Mar 08;
Members of the Women's Institutes have reduced the amount of household rubbish they put out each year to 18 stone (118 kg) compared with the national average of 152 stone (970kg), according to figures published today.
WI members were already doing much better than the national average, putting out an average of only 23 stone of rubbish a year when they got involved in a four-month initiative in which they joined an eco-team.
This was thought to be because many WI members did their own cooking so they did not buy so many ready meals which come in lots of packaging.
Those who joined the eco-teams still managed to reduce that amount by 22 per cent mainly by recycling more than they did before.
Ruth Bond, chairman of the National Federation of Women's Institutes public affairs committee, said: "These are fantastic results. Our members have shown that through a concerted effort we can reduce our impact on the environment and therefore decrease out household's contribution to climate change."
Joy Evans, of Hagley, Worcs, who was on one of the eco-teams, said: "The trick is to think about what you are buying and recycle everything you possibly can.
"Don't buy veg with packaging on it. Buy it from the local shop where there is no packaging at all. My shopping habits have changed since I have been in the eco-team. I shop much more locally."
She takes the plastic bags she does use back to the supermarket.
Jill Glover of Little Chalfont, Bucks, said: "I think WI members are generally more aware. We have campaigned on environmental problems for years."
While on an eco-team she discovered a way of recycling Tetrapak cardboard containers at her local Tesco. "Only I don't shop there," she added.
The WI eco-teams also tried to cut their output of carbon dioxide from household heating and electricity. They were above the national average of 469 kg per month when they started at 491 kg a month. This they managed to reduce to 421 kg a month on average by turning switches off, taking equipment off standby and using low-energy lighting.
