We hope you are enjoying the first few weeks of the CircleUp project and have had a chance to get started on some of the food challenges which are available in the app. 

Weigh your waste 

Are you already using the weigh our waste spreadsheet? If you are tracking your non recycling, food waste and recycling, have you noticed any interesting trends on your waste so far? 

If you are not yet using the weigh your waste spreadsheet, please do get started on this. Perhaps you are recording the data on paper and adding it later which is great! Feel free to let us know this is the case, or if you are exploring any other method of recording your waste data. If you have any questions about accessing the spreadsheet, please let us know so we can help – circleup@This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

The app – Food challenges & ‘Think & Draw’ task  

Just as a reminder, the app is live and two challenges in the food category are available to get started! The next challenges will be launched on 6 July. Please also ensure you have completed the ‘think and draw’ task in the app as soon as possible – we will be in touch again with you directly if you have not completed this in the next few days.  

June has been all about planning your purchases to reduce food waste, and sharing leftovers. As well as more food challenges to look forward to, coming up on the app in October, there are some great resources available via Replenish Oxfordshire, if you are interested in exploring this more. Here are a few of our favourite articles that might provide a creative way to approach your leftovers and reduce food waste:  

How many banana peels does it take to charge a mobile? – Replenish  

Ten unexpected items to fling in the freezer – Replenish  

Family Food Waste Activities – Replenish  

Book your next house visit  

It’s time to book in your next house visit with one of the material efficiency advisors (MEAs)! The visits will mainly be available from mid-August into early September, but if you are away or not available on these dates please do let us know so we can work out another option.   

Visits will last a maximum 1.5 hours this time, and will include an individual interview element with each participant. We will also be sharing a survey with you ahead of the visit to complete in your own time.   

It’s up to you if you’d like to try and book with the same MEA, or someone different, you will have the option to choose this on the booking form, depending on our availability, but we might have to rearrange who is coming to the visit depending on people schedules too.  

You can book your visit here with the Microsoft form:  

 https://outlook.office.com/book/This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./?ismsaljsauthenabled  

Please book in by Monday 13 July if possible, and let us know if you have any questions or our available dates don’t work with your availability. 

Events 

We are putting on some events! This is a great chance to learn more about your waste, explore circular solutions and meet other CircleUp participants in your community. These are free and completely optional, and we welcome you to bring any friends, family or colleagues who are not taking part in the project but would like to come along too.  

Please click here to read more about the events and complete the Microsoft form to indicate if you would like to attend. We will then be in touch to confirm we have a spot for you.  

• Drop in at the Mix (Sustainable Wantage) - Originally planned for Wed 24 June but due to extreme heat, this will be rescheduled for Wed 22 July (signing up is optional but do complete the form again to let us know if you are planning to come – no need to redo it again for the other sessions if there are no changes!) 

• Visit to the Energy Recovery Facility – Fri 10 & Sat 11 July  

Please sign up for this before Thursday 25 June – if you decide to sign up after this date, please get in touch with us 

• Sewing & mending workshops with The Makery – Tues 28 July, 18 Aug & 8 Sept 

Sign up for CircleUp events in June, July & August – Fill in form 

Wider Campaigns 

Beyond the CircleUp project, here are some more fantastic circular events and campaigns you might like to get involved with: 

• Plastic Free July – Be Part of the Plastic Pollution Solution > explore reducing how much plastic you use, beyond the CircleUp project 

• WWF Footprint Calculator > Calculate your carbon footprint, or keep cool with an ice cold quiz Test your knowledge with our cool polar quiz | WWF 

Coming up 

We might be in touch with you to check in about the ‘Think & Draw’ tasks, using the app, weighing your waste and events, but we will try to keep our communications to a minimum to avoid clogging up your inbox! 

Otherwise, you can keep in the loop with CircleUp Wantage on our webpage here: Wantage in the loop - we will be posting various useful links, articles, events and information here on an adhoc basis 

We will be in touch with our monthly update again as we approach August, and with more information ahead of visit 2, and if you have any questions in the meantime please feel free to get in touch. 

Best wishes, 

Amiee, Jess & Rachel