With the warm evenings and weekends, barbecues are a great way to socialise with family or friends.

Disposable barbecues are easy to use but can be very wasteful, unless you’re opting for the biodegradable ones. It can be cheaper to invest in a small, portable barbecue or build your own using an oven rack and some old bricks.

Remember to use up leftovers at your BBQ as well as after them. These Love Food Hate Waste Turkey and Sweetcorn burgers are a great alternative to the traditional burger, and any leftovers can be turned into meatballs for another meal.

Explore Love Food recipes

THANK YOU to all that applied to our Reduce, Reuse, Recycling Fund last month.

We received 25 applications from community groups, charities & schools across Nottinghamshire. We've loved reading all the creative and innovative project proposals and have no doubt they will have a positive impact on the environment. Keep up the great work Notts!

Successful applicants have all now been contacted with further details.

Find out more about the fund and how to apply in 2022

One question we get a lot is 'why do items need to be clean to go in the recycling bin?'

Well if plastic bottles, cans or tins still have contents in them, they can contaminate your whole bin and also the collection lorry. This makes things like paper and cardboard no longer suitable for recycling.

So please make sure that before they start their recycling journey you empty plastic bottles and rinse out cans and tins. It'll also help you keep your recycling bin pest and odour free.

Are you planning to tidy up the garden or maybe clear out a few cupboards?

If so, don’t forget your local recycling centre is open 8am - 8pm all summer including the August Bank Holiday!

Sites can be busy at peak times, so please try to visit at quieter times if possible.

Find your nearest centre

84% of all corrugated cardboard is recycled in the UK – that adds up to about 2 million tonnes every year!

We want to thank all our residents for recycling their cardboard by either popping it in the kerbside bin or taking it to a local recycling centre. 

Don't forget to either reuse or discard any packing material like polystyrene or bubble wrap that came with it and remove the parcel tape if you can. Wet cardboard can’t be recycled so make sure it is dry before you pop it in your household recycling bin.

For more recycling insight check out our FAQs.

Recycling FAQs

They may have just broken up for the summer holidays but it's not to early to get thinking about their school uniform for returning in September.

Did you know that 1.4 million wearable school uniforms are thrown away each year! That's a lot of textiles waste.

If you are planning on buying some uniform ready for September, why not consider preloved items from a uniform exchange and you could also donate clothing that has been outgrown so it get's reused.

The Summer season is here and it means more time outdoors and picnics! But how can we make sure that we have a great time whilst also looking after our planet? Here's a few tips:

• Make your own sandwiches and salads - it's a much better option than opting for the pre-packed versions found in the to-go sections of supermarkets and can be tastier too.
• Choose reusable containers instead of cling film or foil - this will also reduce the amount of waste you produce as will bringing you own reusable cups, plates and cutlery rather than disposable ones.
• When it’s time to clear up try to find a recycling bin for things like plastic bottles and drinks cans but if there is no recycling bin nearby please bring home any recyclable items so they don't go to waste.