At a time when society is growing more eco-conscious than ever before, a rise in zero waste shops across the UK looks to help people reduce their waste usage where possible.
You may have only heard of a ‘zero waste’ shop in recent years, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been around for a lot longer. Yes, it’s a phenomenon that is relatively new to mainstream popularity, but aiming to minimise the environmental impact of consumer habits is something that has been on the minds of people across the country for decades.
Now, someone on Reddit has made a custom map to show where all of the zero waste shops are located across Greater Manchester and those eager to cut back during lockdown, all whilst supporting independent businesses local to them, are loving it.
So, what is a zero waste shop then?
Well, the name does a good job of giving you an initial idea, but to offer a bit more of an explanation, a zero waste shop provides a place for people to shop whilst knowing their impact on the environment is as minimal as practically possible.
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Customers will often be able to shop for fruit, vegetables, grains, spices, pasta and even cosmetics / toiletries / household products. Everything is sold in bulk and absolutely no plastic packaging is allowed. Shoppers bring their own reusable cloth and glass / plastic containers to carry the food, or buy reusable containers at the store and then when they’re done, they take their products home in paper bags, or bags brought themselves.
Many zero waste shops will also buy their stock in bulk quantities and store in either reusable, recyclable or returnable packaging too, so it’s not just the consumers contributing to waste cut-down.
That’s not all though as there’s also mentions of a few additional stores that haven’t been featured on the map from other users in the Reddit comment thread too.
These include Ancoats General Store, Stretford Food Hall, Groceries & Beer in Sale, Waterhouse Quality Food Market in Cheadle Hulme, The Sustainable Shed in Levenshulme, and Replenishery in Leigh to name just a few, so if you’re looking for the closest zero waste shop to you, then it’s definitely worth having a browse through the comments as well as checking the map.
You can view the map and read the full Reddit thread by u/dalphee here.
News
Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre
Daisy Jackson
Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.
Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.
A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.
It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.
Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.
Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
Emily Sergeant -
11th June 2020 
