Waste Busters is a community volunteering scheme that seeks to reduce the amount of food we waste. Wasted food costs each UK household an estimated £9 a week and a third of what we throw out could have been home composted.

Potential Waste Busters are invited to come along to one of the following training events:

• Colchester – Saturday 18 February, 9.30am to 4.30pm
• Castle Point – Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 29 February, 6.30pm to 9.30pm
• Epping Forest – Thursday 1 March, 9.30am to 4.30pm

To find out more or to book your place, please contact volunteer coordinator Louise Phillips at louise.phillips@essex.gov.uk or on 07717 867166.

No matter what age or background, any Essex resident can become a Waste Buster, advising members of their local community on how to reduce food waste, how to home compost and to promote the Love Food Hate Waste campaign.

All a Waste Buster needs is an enthusiasm to improve the local community and a contribution of just 30 hours per year to the scheme, which could include hosting drop-in sessions and workshops to talking to community groups or writing press releases and articles.

Becoming a Waste Buster is a great opportunity to meet new people across Essex, learn valuable skills and make a positive contribution to the environment and the local community. Everyone who volunteers will receive full training, travel expenses and a free 12-month subscription to the Garden Organic charity on completion of ten hours of volunteering.

County Councillor Kevin Bentley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Waste and Recycling said: “By becoming a Waste Buster you can truly make a lasting impact to not only your local community, but Essex as whole. Help make the county a greener place to live, meet new people and make a difference – sign up, join the team and start busting waste.”