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Environmental Services Newsletter
June 2026 - A bumper issue.
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"Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it and make it survive, you haven't done a thing.
You are just talking"
(Wangarĩ Maathai - Kenyan Environmentalist)
1940 - 2011
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Have you seen the “big green recycling machine”?
A “roarsome” Iguanodon and the “Bin Boss” can now be spotted around Maidstone, adorning the newest recycling truck named the “Big Green Recycling Machine.”
The eye-catching design was inspired by the two winners of an art competition run in partnership with Maidstone Borough Council and SUEZ. Adults and children from across the area were invited to submit their artwork to encourage people to recycle.
We also have some new 'Shake It Out!' vinyls to decorate another of our vehicles.
Have you seen them out and about in Maidstone?
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We love our Maidstone parks & open spaces. Where is this?
A) Whatman Park
B) Clare Park
C) Mote Park
Answer is at the bottom of this newsletter!
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Garden Waste
Maidstone Borough Council has started sending out invoices for Garden Waste Permits 2026/27.
The email includes a direct link to renew your subscription for the period of
1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
The first payments were received on 18 May and we are now printing and posting 2027 permits.
When your new permit is delivered, please replace the old one on your garden waste bin. Thank you.
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A reminder that Garden Waste subscriptions are per bin, not per property. Every garden waste bin presented must have a valid permit. |
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Tonnages collecting for composting
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The tonnage of garden waste collected each month varies across the year.
As you would expect, the majority is collected during the growing season from March through to October.
Over the year, we expect to collect about 10,000 tonnes and all of this material is taken to the Blaize Farm composting facility on the A228.
This is traditional composting on an industrial scale: the material is turned regularly by machinery and, on average, treatment takes around 28 days.
Once the material is ready, it is spread on local farms as a soil conditioner.
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New subscribers this year |
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Thank you to all of our new garden waste subscribers!
It's great to see so many people taking the opportunity to recycle their garden waste and really make a difference.
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Garden accounts are due for renewal before the end of June, existing customers may renew via the link below.
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Thank you!
To residents who gave crews water during the recent hot spell.
Your kindness is much appreciated.
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What am I? - Biodiversity Quiz
- I can be found on every continent, apart from Antarctica
- I have two pairs of wings, but no knees
- In the summer I work very hard and live from 4 to 7 weeks
- My winter colleagues are more relaxed and live for up to 6 months
- In the UK, there are over 270 species of me
- We are famous for living together in large numbers
Answer is at the bottom of this newsletter
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We have been asked - can you recycle this? |
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Coffee pods
Unfortunately, coffee pods cannot be recycled through Maidstone’s recycling service.
Some specialist recyclers accept them, and some supermarkets offer collection schemes. Please check locally or use website below for options available.
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Tissues
No, used tissues cannot be recycled like paper as they will be contaminated.
Please place them in the black bin and they will be disposed at the Energy from Waste Facility.
The cardboard box that they came in can be recycled, with all other clean paper, card and cardboard.
Interesting fact:
A recent check of black waste bins found that over 20% of the contents were recyclable paper!
Is all your clean paper and cardboard, going into your recycling bin?
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Cartons (Tetra Pak)
Good news, yes you can! This is a new introduction in Maidstone.
As with all your dry mix recycling, please make sure the carton is empty and leave it loose in the recycling bin.
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Food caddy replacement
Did you know? Maidstone Borough Council will replace your 23-litre black and orange food caddy free of charge if it is lost or damaged.
Please request a replacement using the website.
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If you live in a flat with a communal bin area and need a food bin replaced, please let us know: recycling@maidstone.gov.uk |
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WEEE Roadshows
- new dates
The WEEE Roadshows are community engagement events, hosted by our waste contractor SUEZ Recycling & Recovery Ltd. They give information and advice about the waste and recycling services in Maidstone with a focus on the benefits of repairing or recycling Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
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Friday 3 July
Madginford Library, Egremont Road, Bearsted, ME15 8LH.
Friday 16 July
Kent History & Library Centre, James Whatman Way, ME14 1LQ
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It's time to Shake It Out!
We have started placing these colourful stickers on recycling bins, reminding residents to shake recyclable materials out of plastic bags.
Keeping the materials loose in the recycling bin is important, as it helps the sorting process, see why below:
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And this month's answers:
1. Where is this?
The picture was taken on the entrance road leading into Mote Park.
2. What am I ?
We were describing a bee.
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Welcome to Bombus terrestris, the buff-tailed bumblebee!
It is found widely across Europe and the UK, including Maidstone. It is one of the main species used in greenhouse pollination.
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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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Thank you 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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