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Foreword
 
From Councillor Blake Pain,
Lead Member for the Environment and the Green Agenda.
 
 
Leicestershire County Council have been involved in #NationalTreeWeek - the UK's largest annual tree celebration – including organising a tree giveaway for landowners at Beaumanor Hall and planting 'a tree for the jubilee' as part of the Queen's Green Canopy. I also visited Martinshaw Primary School in Groby to plant a tree and launch our new tree charter with our colleagues from the National Forest. We want to protect and enhance Leicestershire's trees and woodlands, and our tree charter sets out the ways we aim to do that. I am also really pleased to announce that our new tree for every person website is now live, and is packed with information and advice about how you can get involved, and get out and about to enjoy our trees and woodlands.

We're also looking ahead to 'the most wonderful time of the year', but we encourage you to ensure this festive season isn't the most wasteful – and to reduce, reuse, and recycle wherever possible. From storing leftovers correctly, to donating unwanted clothes and decorations, I believe there are many simple and easy ways residents can play their part and help us have a greener Christmas. You can find some of these tips in this edition.

From educating yourself on climate change and reducing food waste to getting Clear on Plastics, all these things and more will help us towards our aim of becoming a net zero carbon county by 2045.

I hope you are inspired by this edition of Environment Matters and have a Merry Christmas and New Year!
 
 
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CHRISTMAS DOESN'T HAVE TO COST THE EARTH

The amount of waste produced in our homes usually increases by around a third over the Christmas period, making it the most wasteful time of year.  

This comes at an environmental cost. In the few days between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day we typically manage to rack up over 5% of our annual national carbon footprint. 

That's not sustainable. We urgently need to reduce our carbon footprints and waste less to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. 

Celebrating Christmas more sustainably and being less wasteful doesn't have to be difficult. We've put together a handy guide containing tips on how to prevent much of the common seasonal waste and how to deal with what you can't avoid.
 
 

Of course, over the festive period we also have the usual household items to recycle and dispose of as well. Please do remember to keep recycling all of your clean and dry glass, paper, plastics and metal cans and foil throughout the festive season as normal. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

TAKING CLIMATE ACTION 

It's always a good time to learn about climate change and the steps we can take to protect our environment. 

You can help tackle the climate emergency by reading more about the subject. Creative Learning Services and Leicestershire Libraries have worked together to create climate change reading lists for both primary and secondary school children, and adults. 

You can choose from a range of fiction and non-fiction environment themed titles at their local library or reserve them online from the library catalogue. This forms part of the council's efforts to educate more residents – both young people and adults - about the impacts of climate change and steps we can all take to become a net zero carbon county by 2045.
 
 
 

 
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FOOD WASTE FEEDS CLIMATE CHANGE

COP26 has highlighted that urgent action is needed to tackle climate change. While 81% of people in the UK are concerned about climate change, fewer than 30% can see a clear link with wasting food. In fact, wasting food is a major contributor to climate change.

We've put together a short video that explains the link and provides helpful advice on how you can reduce food waste at home.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LET'S GET CLEAR ON PLASTICS

Clear on Plastics is a national campaign - led by WRAP UK - aiming to cut the confusion around plastics. 

It aims to do this by providing regularly updated, useful information based on the latest evidence and scientific research.

In Leicestershire there are a wide variety of plastics that can be recycled at the kerbside. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

However, you may want to make more informed and sustainable choices around plastics. 

The Clear on Plastics campaign offers guidance on how you can effectively reduce plastic consumption, without inadvertently causing additional damage to the environment elsewhere.  
 
 
 
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RECYCLING AND HOUSEHOLD WASTE SITES

Following some recent site closures, the Shepshed and Somerby recycling and household waste sites have now reopened. 

The Kibworth site is now closed for major redevelopment and is due to re-open in the autumn of 2022. The waste site at Market Harborough is temporarily open for seven days a week. The maintenance work at Bottesford is proceeding on schedule and the site is due to be open again early in the New Year.

You can find our opening hours, permit requirements and lists of materials which are accepted on the council website.

Winter weather may mean that some sites have to close temporarily, but please check our website or social media before you set off for the latest information. All sites will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. 
 
 

We're still doing everything we can to recruit to vacant positions for operatives and HGV drivers. If you are interested in these roles and want to join a friendly team, please...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

RECYCLING BATTERIES RESPONSIBLY

Recent research has shown that many people are unsure of how they can recycle batteries or the consequences of throwing them into rubbish. 

Every year over 200 fires at waste facilities in the UK are attributed to lithium-ion batteries, which can ignite or explode when damaged. These are the sort of batteries that are found in portable, rechargeable devices like laptops, phones or electric toothbrushes. They can sometimes also be hidden in places like greetings cards that play music or party costumes with flashing lights. 

It's really important that all batteries, once removed from devices, are recycled separately or, if they can't be separated then the devices are disposed of at dedicated collection points for electrical items.  

The good news is that it's easy. Some district councils in Leicestershire will collect batteries and small electrical items from the kerbside and all our Recycling and Household Waste sites have collection points for both. Alternatively, many supermarkets have dedicated collection bins for batteries.

Please ensure that batteries stay out of your general recycling or rubbish bins. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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WE WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR WASTE AND ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY PROJECTS!

We are keen to support projects that can maintain or build on some of the positive environmental benefits that have arisen from the current COVID-19 situation, such as reduced carbon emissions, increased biodiversity, improved air quality and greater appreciation of nature and green spaces.
 
 

If you're a community based organisation looking to reduce household waste or support the local environment you could also be eligible for a grant of up to £3,000. A simplified application process is also available for small grants up to £300.

The next round for applications closes on Friday 25th February 2022.

Further details about the application process, including virtual workshops and information about previous successful projects, can be found below. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GIVING NATURE A HOME

Around 87% of households in the UK have a garden. According to The Wildlife Trusts, these cover a larger area than all our nature reserves combined. But an increasing amount of garden space is being lost to hard surfacing, and some of the wildlife that typically visits is struggling.  

It doesn't matter how big or small your garden is there are multiple ways that you can help nature on your doorstep.
 
 
 
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GREEN HOMES GRANT

Leicestershire County Council is urging residents to do all they can to help tackle climate change and work together to make Leicestershire a net zero carbon county by 2045. 

Through the Green Homes Grant, the authority is offering eligible homeowners the chance to benefit from sustainable home improvements, such as the installation of double glazing and solar energy. The grant helps residents by improving the warmth and comfort of their homes, whilst also reducing energy bills, carbon emissions and levels of fuel poverty across the county. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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This message was sent to emily.fox@leics.gov.uk.
 
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