Thank You for Recycling this Recycle Week

Recycle Week (21 – 27 September) is fast approaching. This year’s theme is ‘Together – We Recycle’ and the aim is to thank you for your efforts in continuing to recycle despite facing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s amazing that people are recycling so much, with some Essex councils recording 20% increases in household recycling.

Use the hashtag #RecycleWeek to share with us what you recycle at home.

 

 

 

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What to do with fallen leaves this autumn

Composting at home is a fantastic way to make the most of your raw veg peelings and grass cuttings and improve your soil. So why not start this autumn? We have all the advice you need to get started, plus it’s a great time of year to start creating leaf mould that can be used as a soil improver. Rather than just putting fallen leaves into your garden waste collection you can place them in a bin liner pierced with small holes. After two years of leaving them loosely tied and tucked away from sight you should have leaf mould to add nutrients to your soil.

 

 

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Fund your sustainable project idea

Are you interested in sustainable projects in Essex? In the last round of funding, the Love Essex Fund provided grants of £500 to some amazing organisations who are reducing household waste in Essex:

• The Colchester Food Coop is a non-profit which provides eco-friendly and affordable food products to its members
• BabyStuff Braintree is a baby bank where parents in need can find clothes, push chairs and other accessories
• UnSealed is a plastic-free, refill shop in Clacton selling foodstuff.

If you have a sustainable project idea, keep an eye out on the Love Essex Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page for the next round of funding which launches in October!

 

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Stop. Swap. Go!

More and more of us are swapping the car with the bus, bike or our own two feet. Whether you’re off to the shops, visiting friends or family, or getting to and from work, school or college, join people across Essex and rethink your daily travel.

So with the help of the Stop.Swap.GO! campaign we can all do our bit to create a greener Essex. Start your 60 day challenge today and be in with a chance of winning great prizes, such as Amazon gift cards and Love2Shop vouchers.

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What’s been happening this month @loveessexuk

Win a Love Essex water bottle!

The plastic bag charge increases to 10p

Grow your own at home for Soil Association Organic Month

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Tips to save cost on a defrost

The ‘Keep Crushing It’ campaign from the Love Food Hate Waste team have offered their top tips to make the most of your freezer contents.

• Pop the food you’ve previously frozen in the fridge overnight to defrost
• If you’re defrosting in the microwave, use the defrost setting to make sure you’ve got no frozen or cold spots in the middle
• Once defrosted, cook food ideally within 24 hours. So it makes sense to plan meals ahead of time to make the most of everything you have.

For more tips about freezing and defrosting food, read the A-Z of Food Storage.

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Delicious autumn recipes to try

Eating seasonally is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and enjoy fresh produce. Now that autumn is almost here, why not try one of these delicious recipes?

• Roasted cauliflower stir fry
• Beetroot Hummus
• Spicy Root Veg Soup

Blackberry and Apple Loaf

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Mythbuster: What can I do with rubble?

During recent months, a lot of people have spent time making improvements to their gardens and homes. If you have rubble left over, the best option is to pass it on to others. Simply post it on your local Freegle group. You may be surprised by who needs some rubble to finish off work they are doing. The other option is to take it to certain recycling centres. However, please check restrictions before visiting so that you don’t waste a trip.

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