Waste, recycling and litter

Welcome to the March edition of Green Steps!

This month’s green steps are all related to what we throw away and where it goes.

Buy loose. Waste less.

17-23 March is Food Waste Action Week.

The focus this year is on a push to buy loose fruit and vegetables, so we only buy what we’ll use rather than much more than we need which then gets thrown away.

Did you know, we waste:

• 46% of the potatoes we buy
• 23% of the carrots we buy
• 18% of the apples we buy

We’ll be posting on our social media channels during the week and it would be great if you can help spread the message. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, Bluesky, Threads and X.

Is your workplace ready for simpler recycling?

From 31 March, workplaces employing 10 or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees will be required to recycle a core set of recyclable materials.

This will be co-ordinated by whoever the workplace normally uses for waste disposal.

If you don’t know what’s happening in your workplace, you might want to talk to your facilities manager (if you have one).

Simpler recycling for residents will be introduced in 2026.

Help keep East Hampshire clean

East Hampshire is a beautiful environment to live in and you can help to keep it that way.

From 17-31 March, East Hampshire Norse will be out and about with more resources, thanks to funding from the Grow Up Programme, as part of the Great Spring Clean.

We currently have capacity for people to sign up to our garden waste scheme, depending on the area you live in. You can join the service online through our website.