 Final call: Garden waste service renewal
If you are using our garden waste service, but have not yet renewed your subscription, please do so right away to avoid any interruption to your collection. The cost of the service is £60 for the period from 1 June 2022 to 31 March 2023.
To renew, simply click the button below or call 0118 974 6000 and choose the “waste” option.
 Cut food waste to save money
Did you know that 70 per cent of the food wasted in the UK is from average households?
Food waste contributes significantly to global warming due to the methane emitted during the decomposition of organic materials in landfill. Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. If food waste were a country, it would be the world’s third largest emitter.
Cutting food waste at home will benefit the environment and save money at the same time. An average family of four can save just over £60 per month by doing so.
It is much easier than you think to reduce food waste. Here are some of the actions you can take:
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Make meal plans: buy and cook what you need only
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Love your leftovers: use leftovers to create new meals
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Pick ugly fruit and vegetables: they just taste the same
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Freeze your food: freeze food at any time up to its use by date, then use it within 24 hours after it is defrosted again
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Start small: take smaller portions at home so you don’t leave food on your plate or share large dishes at restaurants
Last but not least, if you have any food waste, put it in your caddy rather than throwing it away. It’s bad for the environment when it goes to landfill, but if you use our food waste recycling service, we will turn it into fertiliser or energy.
 Waste Less, Recycle More
We looked at recycling the plastics we use at home last week. In this issue, let’s look at what to do with old electricals, which can easily be found in every home.
A massive 75 per cent of all materials in our old electrical items can be recycled. Our unwanted electricals contain valuable materials including plastics and metals that can be turned into new products, from bicycles to life-saving equipment.
Recycling electricals can also help fight climate change. If all our small unwanted electricals are recycled, as much as 2.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions can be cut per year. This equals taking 1.3 million cars off the road.
 3 steps to recycling electricals
If you have ever wondered what electricals can be recycled, here is the simple answer:
Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled.
It ranges from remote controls, game consoles to small and large household applications like toasters, fridges, and tumble dryers. However, before recycling any old electricals, consider fixing, donating, or selling them first. This can be great for your pocket, your neighbourhood, and the planet too.
Once you have decided to recycle your old electricals or gadgets, follow these three steps:
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ASK yourself if your old electricals contain batteries or bulbs. Remove them before recycling. With smart devices and computers, remember to take out memory and SIM cards and delete your data.
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BAG IT: Find a bag that you can use to store all your old electricals until you can go to the recycling centre.
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CHECK: Use the Electrical Recycling Locator to find your nearest reuse or recycling point
 Never put batteries in rubbish or recycling bags
Batteries can cause a fire if you bin them. If they are taken to landfill, the dangerous chemicals inside may leach into the ground and pollute the soil and any nearby water.
All kinds of batteries, from button batteries in watches, standard barrel-type batteries (like AAs, AAAs) to car batteries, should always be recycled because they contain important resources and chemicals.
You can take them to one of our recycling centres. For small batteries, just drop them at any recycling point across the borough, including at local supermarkets. You can check your nearest recycling point online.
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