More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A mother-of-two from Headcorn is using her new business to help families in Maidstone who are having to self isolate.
Alicia Sharp started 'Zero Waste on Wheels' just days before the country went into lockdown.
The 33-year-old operates from her customised van which holds several 20 litre containers of house-hold cleaning products such as laundry detergents, hand soaps and shampoos.
Customers can book a home visit and refill their own bottles from the van.
Miss Sharp said: "With everything that's going on, it's been hard to start a business so I decided to instead use it as a way of helping people who may be vulnerable right now.
"For anyone who is having to self isolate, they can call me and I'll come to them.
"I'm the only one who touches the taps on the containers and it means people who are isolating don't have to take the risk of leaving their homes.
"I also wear gloves and can take contactless payments. I'm always wiping down the refillable bottles with antibacterial wipes so customers can shop, worry free from home."
Miss Sharp operates in the Maidstone Borough and wants make sure people can get hold of essential items that have become hard to buy in supermarkets.
She added: "It's hard to get hold of a lot of things at the moment and people are using farm shops to provide fresh food and meat but these don't sell cleaning products and being clean at this current time is so important."
All the products Miss Sharp uses are biodegradable, vegan, cruelty free, and made in the UK.
"I had the idea because I am very eco-minded and knew there was nothing like this in the area.
"I’m also a mum-of-two and wanted something to get my teeth stuck into for when my youngest starts school in September.
"I’ve always looked to reduce the amount of plastic and waste I use and then I had this idea. Sadly, I couldn’t afford shop premises so I looked for other ways to achieve my goal.
"With the help of some friends, family and an amazing carpenter, my dream is now parked in front of my house."
Miss Sharp from Knights Way also claims her business is completely carbon neutral.
"The only thing holding me back was the emissions from the van and I believe I have tackled that.
"I estimate the amount of miles I do in the van each year and I pay to offset it somewhere else in the world.
"I also contribute to a UK tree planting initiative to help reduce CO2 in this country.
"As well as that, once the containers are empty, they get returned to the supplier and reused so it truly is zero waste."
"I'm so happy I can use this as a way of helping people but I also hope people continue to see the good beyond the coronavirus because I want to make Maidstone and Headcorn a greener, more sustainable place."
For more information on Zero Waste on Wheels, visit https://www.facebook.com/ZeroWasteonWheels/ or call 07379 241475.
