Redcliffe & Temple BID are pleased to have launched an initiative to reduce waste in the BID area’s street food markets by encouraging customers to bring their own lunch box to the market. Following an initial trial at Thursday’s Temple Quay market, they are delighted to be expanding the project to the Wednesday market at Finzels Reach.

With traders at both markets now accepting reusable lunchboxes this provides them with a big opportunity to reduce waste generated in the BID area. They’re grateful for the support of a number of companies who have partnered with the BID to promote the initiative, purchasing lunchboxes for their office, to be taken by staff to the market.

They are now looking for more companies to partner with the BID to promote the initiative by purchasing lunch boxes to be stored in their office kitchens. Following feedback from customers at the Temple Quay market, they now believe that this is the key route to make the initiative a success.

Geraldine Roul from Square Route Events who organises the Temple Quay market spoke about how they and the traders are increasingly aware of the waste generated by the market which serves an average of 800 lunches each week with all the containers currently going into landfill.

“Over the past couple of years we’ve been looking at various opportunities to reduce waste from the market and the bid has provided a real catalyst for us to bring this in, we really hope it will inspire people around the city to take action.”

BID have been delighted with the feedback following the trial at Temple Quay with many customers and traders praising the initiative and planning to bring a lunchbox to future markets.

Speaking about the initiative, BID Project Manager Tom Swithinbank stated how well the initiative has been received:

“We know from our consultation that businesses, staff and residents in the area are really keen for the district to set the standard for waste reduction and our contribution towards a net-zero city. It’s been fantastic to work with Temple Quay market on this and to now expand the market to Finzels Reach is testament to the desire for waste reduction in the city. We really hope that it can show other markets around the city and the country that we can significantly reduce waste from our popular food markets.”

If you would like to be involved in this project going forward please contact: tom@redcliffeandtemplebid.co.uk