Go Zero - Saving the planet through local action

What is Go Zero?

Go Zero is a community project based in Chew Magna that raises awareness of the environmental and social impact of our everyday actions and provides suggestions for change towards a zero waste society. It offers affordable and sustainable solutions to reduce and conserve resources and energy, to contract our carbon footprint, and to brighten the lives of the community while recognizing our responsibilities to encourage others throughout the world to do likewise.


Values and aims
The Go Zero project has the following values and aims at the heart of its vision:

• Regard the planet as something we should care for and cherish
• Live sustainably so as not to deplete the planet’s finite resources
• Modify our behaviour so that we can live in harmony with nature and demonstrate our commitment to equity for all residents of our planet
• Help to influence the behaviour and attitudes of others in working towards sustainable communities
• Constantly look for new ways to minimise use of resources and to strive for a community where waste doesn’t exist
• Set up systems within our own community to enable ourselves and others to reach these objectives

Guiding principles
The Go Zero project has the following principles at the heart of the organisation

• Inclusiveness – to involve all who wish to take part
• Transparency – open and complete communication
• Clarity - for decision making and acceptance of responsibility
• Effectiveness - to communicate the aims of the project
• Respect others, no destructive criticism - only lead by example
• Measure, monitor and report on progress and achievements
• Organise our own lives according to this vision.
• To help others, anywhere in the world, to move towards a fulfilling life style with zero waste, equity and justice.

Background
The inspiration for Chew Magna Zero Waste was the RSA Coffee House Challenge [1]  which was launched on 22nd March 2004 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the society.

The Challenge consisted of a series of debates and discussions in over eighty venues across the UK. The Bristol region held two events on the day followed up with a series of further meetings both in Bristol and here in Chew Magna.

Participating groups used the five challenges of RSA's Manifesto for the 21st century to steer the discussions:

• Encouraging Enterprise
• Moving Towards a Zero Waste Society
• Fostering Resilient Communities
• Developing a Capable Population
• Advancing Global Citizenship