A £1m project to reduce waste and pollution by creating circular communities in North Yorkshire is being discussed.
Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA) is preparing to submit a bid to the National Lottery for funding to launch the Circular Communities Project.
A circular economy involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible, rather than using items and then throwing them away.
YNYCA would work with North Yorkshire Council and the City of York Council on the scheme.
Council officers say the project will re-engage existing circular towns, previously signed up by the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
These include Malton and Norton, Scarborough, Selby, York and Tadcaster.
The project would also work with towns which have previously expressed interest in becoming circular communities, such as Catterick, Hovingham, Pickering, Settle and Skipton.
North Yorkshire Council agreed to take part in the scheme earlier this month.
Fiona Protheroe, the council’s climate change business partner, said: “The project will support our ambition to develop more sustainable and connected places across North Yorkshire.
“Circular Communities Project will introduce positive change into communities with actions that tackle environmental, social and economic issues, and engage more communities in climate change.
“The project supports the development of a circular economy which maximises the value of the materials within our area, and moving towards an economic model that promotes the use and reuse of resources, reducing waste and reducing the need for natural resources.”
The project would support schemes tailored to a community’s needs.
Examples given by the council include community fridges that democratise access to food while reducing food waste and school uniform swap schemes, which reduce clothing waste and make uniforms more accessible.
If the funding bid to the National Lottery’s climate action fund is successful, YNYCA would hold the project funds and pay North Yorkshire for a staff member to work on the project.
The council would be responsible for engaging with the communities, organising engagement events and network meetings, supporting community project development.
The project would run for three years.
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