Sustainable Lifestyles and Circular economy

Free repairing sessions

Residents can find a variety of community-led workshops across the borough, ranging from bikes repairs to mending old clothes:

• Chiswick Repair Café - monthly events at Christ Church Turnham Green offering electrical, clothing, furniture, housewares, bicycles, and toy repairs.
• Brentford Clothes Repair Café – sessions running twice a month to teach residents to mend clothes for free.
• Heston Repair Café – a Heston in the Loop funded initiative, helping residents save money while learning to repair clothing, bikes, and electricals.

Community workshops take place across the borough

Heston in the Loop

Heston in the Loop , a joint initiative by ReLondon and Hounslow Council, established a pioneering circular economy neighbourhood in Heston, Hounslow (west London), aimed at reshaping local consumption habits. This initiative was designed to reduce waste and promote sustainable living by encouraging reuse, repair, sharing, and recycling among the community.

The mission of the project was to create a scalable model for embedding circular economy practices at a neighbourhood level. By equipping individuals and community groups with accessible and affordable options, such as surplus food redistribution, item rentals, product refills, and repair services, the project seeks to empower Heston citizens to make sustainable choices part of their everyday lives.

Heston in the Loop is part of the Council’s vision for ensuring more resilient, thriving, and low carbon neighbourhoods.

The initiative has seen positive impacts such as:

28% increase in how citizens perceive Heston as community - "81% of respondents said Heston 'has a strong community,' up from 53% in the baseline survey."

“Heston in the Loop has had such a positive impact in Heston and for the environment we live in. I will use the branded cup and hoodie with pride and promote the great work Heston in the Loop do.” (Heston resident and community leader)

Based on partner data and waste diversion from incineration, the activities saved at least 6,440 kgCO2e—equal to 28 return flights from London to Rome.

In addition, available waste data indicates some positive change over the period of the project including:

· An increase in recycling levels in Heston (a 5% increase measure between October 2022 and September 2023).

· Reduced residual waste (from 6.3kg average per household per collection in December 2022 to a 4.42 kg average in December 2023.

· A reduction in food waste in residual waste (from 38% pre-project to 37% post-project).

Heston in the Loop serves as a replicable model for neighbourhoods aiming to transform consumption patterns and embrace circular economy principles. The frameworks and toolkits developed provide practical resources for other communities looking to create similar initiatives that generate tangible environmental, social, and economic outcomes.

Leader of the Council Shantanu Rajawat launched the project at Heston's Springwell School in May 2023

No time to waste

Hounslow Council launched its No Time to Waste sustainability campaign in March 2023 to support Hounslow residents to recycle more, waste less, and increase the amount of stuff we reuse. Improving residents’ recycling habits is a top priority for the borough, with ambitious targets set at achieving a 45% recycling rate by 2025, and 50% by 2030.

With the ongoing cost-of-living challenges, improving everyone's relationship with reusing and recycling possessions, and reducing the amount thrown into the rubbish is as important as ever.

Residents can visit www.notime-towaste.co.uk for advice on best practice recycling, reducing the cost of weekly food bills, answers to commonly asked recycling questions, and information on why recycling more and wasting less is vital for reducing Hounslow’s carbon footprint.

Competition winners from Green Dragon school saw their artwork installed onto recycling vehicles as part of the No Time to Waste campaign

PodBack coffee recycling

Podback is a nationwide, not-for-profit, coffee pod recycling service, and is working with Hounslow Council to provide easy ways for residents to cut down on waste.

This new - and free - kerbside recycling service, will support the borough to recycle coffee, tea, and hot chocolate pods at home. Residents can request a free recycling bag to recycle their pods.

Hounslow’s Reduction and Recycling Plan (2023 RRP) sets out how the Council aims to deliver a reduction in overall waste produced, to increase recycling. The Plan forms part of the Mayor of London’s Environment Strategy for the capital.

2023 RRP highlights areas that must be considered by wider policy areas, including reducing carbon emissions associated with waste operations, and improving borough air quality.

Food waste commitment

In summer 2023, Hounslow Council signed London’s Food Purchasing Commitment in an innovative move that will reduce the environmental impact of food the Council buys and serves across all its operations. The commitment is to cut per-plate carbon emissions and reduce food waste by 50% by 2030. All in line with the Mayor of London's environment strategy.

Hounslow is working with Hackney Council, ReLondon, and Sustain (part of London Councils’ One World Living programme) to deliver the changes.

Community Improvement

The Ward Improvement Team are Council officers that provide advice and support on waste and recycling, monitor the condition of streets across the borough, and help organise community events. Residents can contact the team on recycle@hounslow.gov.uk.