Make Less Waste this Easter

The extra packaging, cards and food in the home at Easter can bring more than its fair share of rubbish. Suffolk Recycling’s webpages and social media channels can help reduce the impact by offering advice for managing and reducing what goes in your rubbish and recycling bins.
Ideas for homemade cards and gifts, recycling and packaging guides and tips for a more sustainable Easter can be found at suffolkrecycling.org.uk

For advice on cutting down on food waste, plus lots of recipe ideas for using up excess food visit www.foodsavy.org.uk

 Love Nature Recycling Art Project
 
Schools and groups are invited to create artwork using recycled materials for a fabulous ‘Love Nature’ display at the Suffolk Recycling stand at the Suffolk Show.

The way we treat our rubbish - from reducing what we throw away in the first place, re-using things to keep them in circulation, to recycling in the right place - all have an impact on our environment.

We are calling on all Suffolk schools and groups to help us raise awareness of the important message of putting our waste in the right place, to help protect our towns and countryside and increase biodiversity in Suffolk.

More details and instructions can be found here https://suffolkrecycling.org.uk/news/love-nature

Food Waste Action Week 18-24 March
 
Did you know buying loose can reduce food waste? WRAP research has shown that if all apples, bananas and potatoes were sold loose, we could save 60,000 tonnes of food waste by enabling people to buy what they need.
 
This year for Food Waste Action Week we are encouraging everyone to Choose what you'll use! Buy the right number of jacket potatoes to fit your family for tonight's dinner or pick exactly the number of apples you need for your apple crumble - plus, you’ll be saving food and plastic from going to waste.
 
For top tips on how to buy loose and make the most of the food you buy, head to www.foodsavvy.org.uk/food-waste-action-week
 
Check out the Food Savvy Facebook page for a chance to win a £100 grocery shopping voucher so you can choose what you'll use – all you have to do is send us a photo of yourself choosing loose products when you shop! One lucky winner will be chosen at random.

Foil In Love with recycling
 
A new ‘Foil in Love’ campaign, running throughout March, encourages residents to recycle more aluminium foil trays, aerosols and foil wrap in their household recycling bins. The foil should be as clean and free from food residue as possible. It doesn’t have to be perfect – just a quick wipe or rinse out in your washing up water will do.
Remember to collect up clean foil wrap into a tennis sized ball before recycling, as small pieces get lost in the sorting process.

Aluminium is a very costly material to source and manufacture and by using recycled aluminium to make new products rather than the raw material, 95% less energy is needed. 

Find out more about what goes in your recycling bin here

Foxhall official opening 
 
Foxhall’s new and improved recycling centre was officially opened last week, by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, Countess of Euston and Councillor Richard Smith, cabinet member for Transport Strategy, Economic Development and Waste at Suffolk County Council and vice chair of the Suffolk Waste Partnership.
The occasion was marked with a tour of the site to demonstrate how the development has improved the efficiency and customer experience for site users, a presentation on how the site was constructed, plus an opportunity to visit the Re-use Shop on site to grab a bargain. Tea and cake were served from vintage cups and plates – all available to buy from the Re-use Shop which supports the Benjamin Foundation Charity.
The new improved site provides another flagship recycling centre for the county with raised level recycling (removing the need for steps) and improved access to avoid queuing on the highway, as well as providing greater site capacity for future growth. 

Spring clean and beachwatch
 
Are you looking for something active and positive to do this spring with other people who want to help make their environment better for their local communities and wildlife alike? Then why not organise a litter pick – it’s easy, fun, gets you out in the fresh air and the results are immediate and tangible!
 
Great British Spring Clean Great British Spring Clean | Keep Britain Tidy  is the national campaign running from 15 to 31 March, but remember your local council can help with equipment and removal of the litter you collect whatever the time of year; for more information including links to litter picking groups that you can connect with, see Litter picking - Suffolk Recycling
 
If you want to go a step further and add an element of citizen science to your litter pick, why not carry out a survey of the litter that you find? Whether you are on the coast or inland, the data you gather can be submitted to the Marine Conservation Society who collate and analyse the data from groups from all over the country, helping them to act in an effective and evidence-led way, to influence industry practices and lobby for changes in legislation. For example, past data helped make the case for the plastic bag charge and the more recent bans on certain single-use items such as plastic stirrers, cotton buds, straws and polystyrene cups. Citizen Science | Marine Conservation Society (mcsuk.org)

Compost Corner  
 
Suffolk Master Composters are looking for new recruits to join our happy band of enthusiastic volunteers to help spread the word about the many benefits of home composting.  
A few remaining places are available on the FREE Foundation Training course. You will receive expert training and ongoing support from Garden Organic and the Suffolk Waste Partnership, enabling you to act as a composting ambassador - with a commitment to at least 30 volunteer hours after training. Training is informal and relaxed and no experience is required – all you need is an interest in composting and a willingness to give up some time to help others in your community!  

Training takes place on Friday 22nd March (9.30 am - 5 pm) at the Food Museum, Stowmarket.
Places are allocated on a first come first served basis - lunch and travelling expenses provided. To find out more visit Master composters - Suffolk Recycling or contact mastercomposters@suffolk.gov.uk .

Home Compost Bin Offers
There are still a couple of weeks left to take advantage of the Suffolk Waste Partnership’s subsidised compost bins at this year’s prices - until 31 March. New prices will be announced in April.
Find more about composting bin offers here

Garden Waste collections
Spring is the perfect time to be thinking about a garden waste subscription if you don’t already have one or are renewing your existing one. Having garden waste collected fortnightly is a very convenient way to keep on top of all those hedge trimmings and grass cuttings as our gardens are bursting into life!   
Find out more about what goes in your garden waste bin and how to get one here