Have you used our new Recycling Checker yet? It’s a quick and easy way to find out which products can go in your recycling bin at home and it’s available on the free MyNotts app.

Making sure we recycle the correct things in the right places is really important - not only does it help the fight against climate change by saving the UK save 18 million tonnes of CO2 each year, but it also means that lorryloads of recycling are not contaminated by items that cannot be recycled in Nottinghamshire.

We know that it can sometimes be confusing to know which bin to use for your rubbish and that is why we’ve created the new Recycling Checker. The Recycling Checker allows users to search thousands of items to find out if they can be recycled at home, if they need to be disposed of in another way, or if they need to be taken to one of our 12 recycling centres across the county or another facility such as bottle and clothing banks.

The Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity is back and this year it's running from 6 to 17 February. If you have a budding mathematician, a future scientist or engineer at home, or even a youngster who is simply curious and loves learning new things, then why not check out some of the activities happening at venues across the city and county? Our waste and recycling partner, Veolia, will be hosting a stand there to talk about recycling too, so come along and pick up some tips.

Last year Veganuary inspired and supported over 620,000 people to try being vegan – with participants from over 220 countries and territories. This year the campaign is again aimed at encouraging people to try a vegan lifestyle. Find out more about Veganuary. 

If you are thinking about trying vegan food, why not check out this Love Food Hate Waste easy vegan gnocchi recipe, which uses leftover baked potatoes or mash?

While the weather stays cold and the days are short, we have some winter recycling tips to help you stay safe while you recycle right.

• When the weather forecast shows ice or snow, it’s a good idea to wear some gloves and non-slip outdoor shoes, rather than nipping out in slippers to move your bin to the kerbside.
• Make sure the lid of your bin is closed. This will prevent any paper and cardboard inside getting wet, which is important because moisture weakens paper fibres and can make it unsuitable for recycling.
• If you have gathered up all your used Christmas wrapping paper, plastic pop bottles and drinks cans in a bag so you can carry them to your recycling bin, please remember to leave the bag out. All recyclables should go into your bin loose and not inside a plastic bag or bin liner, because plastics bags and bin liners cannot be recycled at our Materials Recovery Facility. The machinery at our Materials Recovery Facility cannot sort your recyclables either if they are hidden in bags or boxes.
• Place heavier items on top of light ones in your bin. This will stop things blowing away in windy conditions and it will also make more space in your bin.
• Take extra care and be careful when taking things to your bin or moving your bin when it is icy or snowy.

Perhaps you’re having a clear out to make room for all the exciting new things Father Christmas brought you, or maybe you received some gifts that didn’t quite match your list this year. Why not take any unwanted items that are suitable for reuse to a charity shop or homeless shelter? They may be just what someone else is looking for!

Remember that some charities cannot accept electrical items even if they’re fully working, so it’s best to check first if you have anything with a plug or battery that you would like to pass on.

Christmas cards are a great way of sending a message of love to family or friends during the festive season, but some of them will not be suitable for recycling. Cards that have glitter, foil or adornments can't be recycled. Some adornments can be easily removed, but if this is not possible please don’t put them in the recycling bin.

Musical cards cannot be recycled at home either because they contain electrical components and batteries. Please take them to your local recycling centre instead.

Why not get creative and think about other uses for those cards which can’t be recycled? You could turn them into:

• Gift tags for next Christmas 
• Tree decorations
• Bunting
• Gift boxes
• Bookmarks

Now that  the decorations have come down, don't forget that your real Christmas tree can still be recycled at any of our 12 recycling centres around Nottinghamshire. They are all open daily from 8am until 4pm.

Real Christmas trees are shredded to make wood chip paths, mulches or can be recycled into compost at a local facility.