Local legend, Robin Hood, was spotted this month at the Materials Recovery Facility in Mansfield, where the county’s recycling is sorted. He swapped his Lincoln green for a hi viz jacket and hard hat and his bow and arrow for safety glasses and gloves before getting stuck in hunting through the recycling and removing the unwanted items from the conveyor belt. Putting the wrong things into your recycling bin can slow down this usually efficient process, spoil other recyclables and even be dangerous for the workers at the facility.

So be a local hero yourself and find out more about what can and cannot be recycled in Notts.

Recycle Week has been postponed from its usual September date due to the period of national mourning. It will now take place  from 17 to 23 October 2022.

This national celebration of recycling returns for its 19th year with a theme of ‘Let’s Get Real’.

The aim of this year's Recycle Week is to challenge perceptions and myths around recycling and target contamination to improve recycling behaviours.

Many of us choose a packed lunch for work or to give our children one to take to school with them. This can save money and lets us choose the food we like. But it can also be a great way to cut down on waste.

These are our top tips for a ‘waste free’ lunch:

• Use containers that can be used again e.g. tupperware, a flask or an old ice cream tub.
• Pack drinks in a reusable bottle rather than cartons or foil pouches.
• Avoid using disposable packaging and individually wrapped snacks. Instead buy one large pack and then put a serving each day in a smaller reusable container (this also saves money!)
• Use cutlery that can be washed and used again.
• Choose fruit as your snack of choice, not only is this a healthy option, but the leftovers can be composted.

To help you get started with your waste free lunch we are giving away two sets of these Collapsible Silicone Food Storage Containers.

Each set contains four separate containers which are dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe. They are foldable and stackable which is great for space-saving in the kitchen.

They cut down the need for plastic freezer/sandwich bags and are great for storing that left over food to make another delicious meal.

Fruit is one of things that often gets thrown away especially at this time of the year when gardeners are gathering their crops. Over 800,000 apples get thrown away every single day in the UK and soft fruits like strawberries, blackcurrants and raspberries don’t stay fresh very long so often end up in the bin.

Why not try one of our ‘Love your leftovers’ seasonal recipes, such as apple and blackcurrant fool or summer fruit cheesecakes?

If you are having a clear out, don’t forget that your local recycling centre is still open 8am to  8pm until the end of September.

From 1 October recycling centres will be open from 8am to 6pm.

Have you recently waved off someone heading off to study at University? As you check up on how they are settling in, encourage them not to forget their recycling habits and to learn about the recycling services in their new city.

Most universities are committed to sustainable waste management & a quick check of their webpage will give you more information about what to do when on campus.