Zero waste: Dunbar

Dunbar was Scotland’s first Zero Waste Town: the community-led Zero Waste Dunbar project ran from 2014 to 2017. Great results were achieved in getting schools recycling. Virtually no waste was being recycled in the 6 local schools, who just needed an expert guiding hand to get systems set up. A 50% reduction to landfill was achieved within a year, and led to a great relationship with the Zero Waste Town team who went on to deliver some really ground-breaking waste education work involving role-play, animation and puppetry.

The real breakthrough for Dunbar was through re-use though. An initially small scale re-use project consisting of a van and staff diverting re-usable items away from landfill at the local recycling centre eventually blossomed into a hugely successful and wildly popular re-use operation which has spread right across East Lothian. It has generated income that has allowed the project team to set up social enterprise ReUse Scotland to carry on beyond the funded project, opening two huge re-use hubs in Dunbar and North Berwick and employing a number of staff and volunteers.

There continues to be a focus on a sustainable future for Dunbar, led by Sustaining Dunbar. Since 2008, they have been driving local change and opportunities. Their aim, to enable and incubate local projects that help to build a more resilient community.

Sustaining Dunbar delivers and supports a range of activity including a therapeutic community garden offering space for learning and growing; Dunbar Bike Hub and Library getting people moving and giving access to equipment including e-bikes and; coastal and river projects connecting people with place and improving outcomes for the environment.