RoWAN is 10 years old!

Here at RoWAN we are celebrating the start of our 10th anniversary year.  RoWAN started out in 2001 by selling cheap compost bins, but quickly gained publicity with the famous Waste-Free Household project in 2003 that supported over 120 families in reducing the amount of waste they sent to landfill.  During the last 10 years, we have supported 180 volunteers and advised literally thousands of householders on waste reduction issues. 

Project Manager Caroline Eccles says “As we enter our birthday year, we wanted to look back and highlight some of our achievements – and say thank you to all the people who have supported us.  By our reckoning we have attended 237 community events since we began and in the last 2 years have worked with over 7100 pupils in 23 schools!  To celebrate our anniversary, we aim to boost our volunteer numbers this year.  If you have ever received information or advice from us and are interested in supporting other folk in your community to reduce their waste, we’d like to invite you to join our current project, Zero Waste Volunteers.  Volunteers have lots of fun raising awareness of waste issues at events and of course, receive training and expenses as well.  We are also looking for new Management Committee members who can contribute to the future direction of the organisation.” 

Since 2001, a total of 11 members of staff have been employed on different projects and the organisation recently expanded from Ross and Cromarty to cover Inverness as well.  All this activity has contributed to an increased awareness of recycling and waste reduction – and has supported the work of the Council in improving recycling rates.  Potential Zero Waste Volunteers need to have an interest in waste issues and enjoy talking to people, while Committee members with a business, project management or personnel background are particularly welcome.

For more information on becoming a Zero Waste Volunteer or joining the Committee, call 01349 867063 or email zerowastevolunteers@rowan.org.uk