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Environmental Services Newsletter
April 2026
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Simpler Recycling
You may have heard about 'Simpler Recycling' on the news, on the radio or even on social media.
This national initiative standardises recycling collections, trying to reduce confusion over dry mix recycling.
As a Maidstone resident, you will notice little difference. The only major change is that you can now put Tetra Pak cartons in with your other dry clean recycling.
All other aspects of the recycling and food waste service will continue without change.
Like all recycling, please make sure the cartons are empty and placed loose in the recycling bin.
If you are unclear on what or how to recycle using your household recycling bin, please contact recycling@maidstone.gov.uk
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What happens to your recycling? |
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At the Materials Recycling Facility in Crayford, your loose recyclable materials are placed on a conveyor belt.
Materials are sorted by hand and machinery.
This includes high-powered magnets and infrared equipment.
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Once the materials are sorted, they are baled and then loaded onto a lorry.
Materials are then ready for transport to the final recycling centre.
Did you know?
Each individual bale holds up to 30,000 cans.
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Quick Quiz
How many times can glass be recycled?
1. Five times
2. Twenty times
3. No limit. Glass can be recycled forever
Answer at bottom of the newsletter.
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Are you ready to Drive Electric?
Drive Electric is coming to MidKent College Maidstone!
Friday 17 April, 10am–2pm
MidKent College, Maidstone Campus
Join a fun and informative day at MidKent College, exploring the future of transport with a huge range of electric vehicles, expert advice, live demos and plenty more.
- Test drive the latest EVs
- See commercial vehicles & mobility solutions
- Learn about charging, infrastructure & energy-saving options
- Hear from industry experts, the council and the college
- Discover how MidKent College is leading the way in sustainable energy
Whether you're a business, resident, student or just EV‑curious, this event is the perfect chance to learn, ask questions, explore opportunities and see how electric transport could work for you.
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Garden Waste
Garden waste collections are chargeable and this is the first year of a new permit system. Most subscribers have now received their year-one permit.
If you have paid for the year ending 30 June 2026 and NOT received your permit, please let us know by calling
01622 602600.
A reminder, a valid permit must be placed on every garden bin presented.
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Arrangements are being made for next year's permits. Information will be included with your annual service invoice for the period ending June 2027.
These invoices will be dispatched in batches starting from May 2026.
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Data Download...
We continue our look at data collected for our recycling and waste service and this month, let's take a look at last year's tonnage collected, and how it was treated or disposed.
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Key
Composting: the total collected amount of recycled food waste, plus garden waste.
DMR (Dry Mixed Recycling): the amount of dry mix recycling delivered to the sorting facility.
Residual: the non-recyclable tonnage taken to Allington Energy from Waste (EfW) plant.
What does the data tell us?
- Residual waste levels remain steady, but have dropped, indicating a higher uptake of separate food waste collection system - thank you!
- Composting has shown the highest increase, with greater recycling of food and garden waste. This is encouraging to see, especially around Christmas and New Year, when more food is generally wasted.
- Dry Mixed Recycling has slightly decreased over the year. With the Simpler Recycling scheme, we expect to see this on the rise.
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Five tips for top tier waste management |
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1. Use the separate weekly food waste system
Your food waste is removed every week and this is one of the best ways of reducing your carbon footprint, while saving you money.
The recycling bin must only be used for the materials that can be recycled.
3. Ensure all your bottles, cans and cartons are empty, dry and clean
That will reduce the contamination of the dry mix recycling. If recycling is contaminated, it costs the taxpayer.
4. No plastic bags in your recycling bin, at all
Shake the recycling out of any plastic sacks and keep the bottles and cans loose. That way, the materials can be seen and sorted into the different types. As a bonus, you will get more into your recycling bin.
5. Use the separate garden waste service
The material is composted locally with environmental benefit.
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Good news!
Our food caddy deal is still running
For just £9, our package includes:
A 23-litre external caddy
A 5-litre internal caddy (assorted colours)
A roll of compostable bags
Fridge magnet with some useful tips
Food bag clip
Service information leaflets
This offer is available to residents of the borough of Maidstone only.
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Fire Safety Information
Following our article last month about the fire risks and dangers of putting dry-cell batteries in wheeled bins, a local resident has written in to remind us that rechargeable batteries are the best environmental option.
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 And it's a fact!
One set of rechargeable AA batteries, used in a high drain appliance, will massively reduce the environmental impact and save you money!
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Allington Household Waste Recycling Centre
Reuse Shop
The Re-use Shop at Allington opened in September 2025 and supports local causes across Kent.
Pop in and grab yourself a pre-loved bargain, while making a difference to someone else.
The Reuse Shop is open every day and there is no need to book a visit the shop.
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See some more interesting links: |
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Thank you for your feedback!
Our Waste Management Team has received this message following a visit to a local residents' group:
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"It was an excellent talk to the Interest Group, presenting a mountain of information which was recycled into understandable bits, for our willing residents.
"The number of questions at the end showed how involved the audience were and will be in this important work, which is vital to reducing our waste and helping to secure a better environment for all."
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Coffee group or lunch club?
Are you a member of a coffee group, a lunch club or other resident group?
Would you like our team to visit and explain the recycling systems in Maidstone?
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Quiz Answer
The correct answer is C (No limit)
Glass is a perfect recycler. It is made from various materials including sand, soda ash and limestone. It can be recycled forever, without any loss of quality.
Every tonne collected and recycled saves energy, raw materials and over 500kg of CO2 emissions!
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Our quote for April:
"If you are not buying recycled products,
you're not really recycling!"
(Ed Begley Jr - American actor and environmentalist)
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We are here to help.
If you have any questions, or if you have a recycling or waste subject that you would like us to cover, please get in touch.
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Thanks for reading our Environmental Services update. If you enjoyed reading this month's newsletter, please forward to friends and family, so they can sign up as well.
Other newsletters from Maidstone Borough Council include:
Climate Change and Biodiversity – everything to do with sustainability
What’s On in Maidstone – for all events
News – to keep up to date
Consultations – share your views
Visit Maidstone – the best places to visit and stay
Business in Maidstone – workshops, events and business support
Planning – updates on recent planning decisions
Maidstone Museum - news, updates and events from Maidstone Museum
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