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 is a pioneering circular neighbourhood initiative that aims to promote sustainable living within London Borough of Hounslow’s Heston area. The 18-month pilot is making it easier than ever for residents to save money, cut waste, protect the environment, and build a stronger community.
Hounslow Council and ReLondon have partnered up to work alongside local businesses, community groups, schools, and places of worship to encourage less waste in Hounslow, and more sharing, reusing, repairing, and recycling.
The ongoing initiative is already creating more jobs and offering free training and volunteer opportunities to the residents of Heston.
Heston in the Loop is part of the Council’s vision for ensuring more resilient, thriving, and low carbon neighbourhoods.
Leader of the Council Shantanu Rajawat launched the project at Heston's Springwell School in May 2023
Reuse and refill
Hounslow has partnered with City to Sea to improve sustainability in the borough, and is now an official Refill Destination. Residents and businesses are encouraged to significantly reduce single-use plastics when possible, and contribute to limiting plastic pollution.
125 businesses in Hounslow have signed up to become Refill Stations, which means residents can come prepared with reusable containers for water, coffee or food at these places, or shop without the needless plastic packaging. Residents can download the Refill app to see where local Refill Stations are.
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.
Coffee capsules being collected for PodBack
Hounslow's recycling plan
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.
