NWL Enviro e-newsletter | September 2025

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September 2025

FlexCollect trial update

Since we started our flexible plastic collections in March 2024, 45 tonnes of plastics bags and wrapping have been collected from the 13,150 households on the trial.

The material collected has been sent for mechanical recycling locally to be turned into items such as bags, buckets and crates.

Items that can be recycled in the purple bags include:

• Any kind of bag for life and carrier bag
• Fruit and vegetable wrapping
• Bread bags
• Cereal packets
• Sweet wrappers
• Biscuit wrappers
• Crisp packets
• Coffee bags
• Magazine packets
• Film lids from ready meals
• Plastic sleeves from bottles and jars
• Pet and baby food pouches
• Bubble wrap and cling film.

The council will continue to provide these collections to the households on the trial as it prepares for the new legislation that will make flexible plastic collections mandatory by 2027.

The collection of flexible plastics will be rolled out to all households when the district's new recycling system is introduced from autumn 2026.

Free tree scheme 2025

This year sees the 18^th year of the free tree scheme, supported by the National Forest.

Residents within the National Forest Area are eligible for up to two free trees and up to 30 metres of free trees suitable for hedging.

What are this year's free trees?

This year the following trees are available:

• Rowan
• Silver birch
• Crab apple
• Bird cherry

Applications are open between 2 and 27 October.

Love Your Neighbourhood: Week of Action, 30 June - 6 July

Our latest week of action took place at the end of June and the start of July. This was the second year of events taking place daily across the district.

Here are some highlights from the week:

• 19 organisations took part in environmental activities during the week
• 1,906 volunteering hours across the week
• 60 litter pickers and high-vis packs were provided to organisations across the district
• 146 bags of litter were collected by volunteers during the week.

Cutting your energy bills

If you are struggling with heating bills or your home is not energy efficient, support is available. For example:

• Energy efficiency grants
• Warm Homes advice service
• Green Living Leicestershire Energy Company Obligation.

For further information please visit our website.

Hermitage Lake, Whitwick  This spring, we asked that all dogs are kept on leads around Hermitage Lake in Whitwick during bird nesting season. We also put up clear signage and carried out patrols in the area. We are delighted to share that no incidents of dogs disturbing wildlife were reported at Hermitage Lake this season.    This was an excellent outcome which has helped protect vulnerable wildlife during a crucial time. Thank you for your support.

Save the date:

Recycle Week, 22-28 September

A week of celebrating recycling and encouraging everyone from residents to retailers, brands, governments, media and waste management companies to join together to recycle more.

Go online to find out more about Recycle Week.

International E-Waste Day, 14 October

The Great Cable Challenge is to encourage us all to clear out the 'drawer of doom' and recycle cables that are currently just lying unused in a drawer. Copper is 100% recyclable and uses 85% less energy than making new copper!

To find out where to recycle your cables, visit the International E-Waste Day website.

Seed Gathering Season, 22 September to 23 October

The Tree Council encourages you to collect seeds, nuts and fruit and to care for trees.

Find out more here about Seed Gathering Season.