WINCHESTER'S new Green Party councillor has called for more help for small event organisers to help minimise waste. 

Cllr Suzanne White was elected in May in Central Meon Valley and asked if the council could help small fetes and festivals. 

At the full council meeting on Tuesday, July 16, she said: “Guidance on minimising waste and recycling for local community event organisers.

“Organisers of a recent, well-attended local fete in Newtown in the Meon Valley were very motivated to reduce waste as well as recycle as much as possible. However, although it seems that larger festivals and events are well-catered for with sustainable events advice and commercial companies that will manage and recycle the waste, many local fete organisers have found very little help for this smaller, community event. 

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 Cllr Suzanne White at the election count in May (Image: Newsquest)

“Is there a toolkit or guidance from the council, specifically aimed at minimising waste at these local events or help provided for fete organisers to recycle the waste generated, especially the hard plastics?”

Cllr Kelsie Learney, cabinet member for the climate emergency, said: “Every event is different and will create different waste issues depending on purpose, size, location, catering, the level of control by event organisers and the availability of waste facilities. 

“Event waste is commercial and not part of the city council's household waste stream which has to be our priority. But we are still keen to encourage waste minimisation and recycling across the board. 

“We are working in a rapidly evolving waste environment and we need to see what we need to do to keep that up to date.”