Glasgow project aiming to save East End residents hundreds of pounds

The Shettleston 100 project – which is open to everyone in the constituency and its surrounding areas – has put out a call for volunteers to get involved and learn how they could shave hundreds off their food and energy bills.

Around 600,000 tonnes of food is thrown out by Scots every year, according to charity Zero Waste Scotland, accounting for around 3% of the nation’s entire carbon footprint.

Half of the food binned is completely untouched, one-seventh is still in its wrapping, and more than two-thirds of it is still in date.

The value of this food tops £1bn, meaning a family with kids is throwing more than £500 a year down the drain.

Shettleston 100 project

Project coordinator Poppy Elliott said: “With the cost-of-living crisis seeing people’s weekly food shops get more and more expensive, hopefully the Shettleston 100 project can help to ease the burden on hardworking families in the East End of Glasgow.

“When every penny counts, can you imagine throwing hard-earned cash in the bin every single day? That’s essentially what we’re doing, as the average Scottish household throws out £430 worth of food every year – £550 if it’s a family with children.

“That’s not to mention the amount that could be saved on energy through simple steps such as turning off appliances instead of leaving them on standby.”

Recent research from British Gas found households could save around £150 a year by switching off electronics which aren’t in use.

Ms Elliott added: “The climate crisis also hasn’t gone away, and with COP26 in Glasgow last year people are still wondering how they can do their bit.

“By cutting down household waste with this project – made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund – people can fight climate change and keep more money in their pockets at the same time.”

The Shettleston 100 project aims to get 100 households from Glasgow’s East End to track household waste as part of a collective effort to save everyone cash.

Those who sign up at tinyurl.com/Shettleston100 will also have the chance to learn how to cut down on the energy they use every day without impacting on their lifestyle.

It is being run by Fuse Youth Café in partnership with local primary schools, Glasgow Kelvin College, and Shettleston Housing Association.

Hollie Manclark, nine, a regular at Fuse, recently won the competition to design the logo for the project

Hollie Manclark, nine, a regular at Fuse, recently won the competition to design the logo for the project.

Hollie said her winning design – which incorporates key messages of the project – was inspired by wanting “to stop climate change and make the world better”.