Save space in your green bags
We know most of you have been doing great in using your green recycling bags, but once in a while, you may find your green bags too full to chuck in more recycling.
We have some tips for you - squashing plastic bottles (like milk bottles) and flattening cardboard packaging can help leave room for more.
To avoid contamination in your recycling, use washing up water to quickly rinse the plastic bottles before putting them out.
Did you know
Can I recycle deodorants, air fresheners or hair sprays?
Yes. You can simply pop them in your green recycling bag when they are empty.
Around 60% of aerosols are made from tinplated steel and approximately 40% are made from aluminium. Both of these metals are recyclable.
If everyone in UK recycled one empty can of air freshener, enough energy could be saved to run a TV in 273,000 homes for a year!
Tips for sustainable Coronation celebrations
It's less than a month away until the King's Coronation. While we are busy preparing for the biggest national event of the year, spare some time to read these useful tips that can help make your celebrations more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Decorations
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Avoid single-use plastic: decorations are often one of the biggest sources of party waste. Try to swap those made out of plastic with reusable and recyclable alternatives, such as felt chains or flower garlands.
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Make your own decorations: feeling crafty? You can use old sheets and clothes to make your own bunting or make paper chains from scrap paper and old magazines.
Catering
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Choose loose fruit and veg: pick up loose fruit and vegetables instead of bagged ones to help reduce single-use plastics.
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Try alternatives to cling film: use food storage containers, beeswax wrap or reusable silicon lids to store or wrap food, instead of cling film which can't be reused or recycled.
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Bring your own cup: encourage participants to bring their own cups, plates and cutlery, so as to save using single use paper or plastic versions.
Cleaning up
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Love your leftovers: ask everyone to take some leftovers home after the party. Remind them to bring a couple of storage boxes for any leftover food.
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Recycle: set up a few pop-up recycling bins on site to help participants recycle as much as they can, and take drink bottles to the glass banks near you. Use the Recycling Locator tool to see where they are.
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Reuse: instead of buying new cleaning cloths, turn pure cotton T-shirts and towels that have come to the end of their life into cleaning cloths. Also, keep the decorations for future use.
Best ways to dispose of unwanted kitchen essentials
Pots, pans and cutlery
If you have any unwanted pots, pans and cutlery, consider selling them or giving them to charity shops, if they are still in good condition.
Alternatively, you can take unusable ones to the re3 recycling centre in Reading or Bracknell where they can be recycled with other scrap metal.
Don't put them in your green recycling bags, as they are not made from the same materials as metal food and drink cans.
Pyrex, drinking glasses and crockery
Pyrex ovenware and drinking glasses are non-recyclable because they are specially treated in the manufacturing process to withstand high temperatures.
China and crockery are mostly made from ceramic, which can't be recycled either.
Broken or chipped Pyrex, glassware and earthenware should be disposed of carefully with other general waste. Wrap the sharp edges or pieces in newspapers or unwanted plastic bags (such as bread bags or fruit bags) before putting them in your blue bag.
Unbroken china, glassware and cutlery can be taken to the reuse area at the re3 recycling centres where they can be collected by Sue Ryder for sale in their shops.
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