People across the UK are taking up waste reduction pledges as part of the seventh annual National Zero Waste Week, beginning today (1 September).

Organised by blogger Rachelle Strauss from MyZeroWaste.com in partnership with fellow blogger Karen Cannard at the Rubbish Diet, Zero Waste Week asks members of the public to become ‘Zero Heroes’ and make a pledge to reduce their waste production with the aim of making better use of resources and saving money.

This year’s theme, ‘One More Thing’, asks members of the public to see if they can undertaken one more action to help ‘slim their bins’ and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Suggested pledges include:

• using reusable, rather thanplastic, carrier bags;
• packing a ‘zero waste’ lunch;
• taking clothes to a textile bank;
• reducing food waste;
• repairing something; and
• buying food and products without packaging

Those pledging to take action will receive daily emails to ‘keep [them] accountable’, and could also be entered into a prize draw. Last year’s week saw 1,700 people take part.

Interviewed in Resource 77, Zero Waste Week founder Rachelle Strauss, said: "I think people like it because although it’s got a serious message, I’m quite fun with it… I’m not preaching at people because we’re in this together and I’ve got some bad habits and Zero Waste Week helps me rein things back in.”

Find out more about National Zero Waste Week 2014.