Local Nature Recovery Strategy launch | |
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We’ve launched the first-ever Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, working together with partners to help nature thrive.
The strategy sets out a shared vision for restoring and protecting the landscapes, habitats and species that matter most, and follows on from a public consultation held earlier this year.
More than 1,000 local residents and nearly 100 farmers had their say in shaping the priorities, which include creating more woodland and wetland, connecting wildlife habitats, and supporting nature-friendly farming and urban spaces.
The LNRS aims to identify where nature can be recovered and where practical actions can be taken to support wildlife and make the land more resilient to climate change.
The launch marks a major milestone in the commitment to nature recovery, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders in a collective effort to restore and protect the natural environment. These include farmers, landowners, conservation groups, community organisations and representatives from local authorities – all involved in helping to shape the future of nature and make the vision of the LNRS a reality.
We’re now working with our partners on a delivery plan to make the LNRS a reality - making space for nature and creating a greener, healthier future for everyone in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.
You can find out more and read the strategy at www.leicestershire.gov.uk/what-is-a-lnrs. |
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Disposing of vapes safely | |
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Although the sale of single-use vapes was banned in England on 1st June 2025, many people will have stocked up and there are still millions of single-use vape devices in circulation, all of which will eventually need to be disposed of.
When single-use or rechargeable vapes are binned or incorrectly disposed of, the battery inside can get crushed or damaged in bin lorries and recycling centres, starting devastating fires. In 2024, there were a reported 399 vape-related fires in the UK, more than one per day.
To avoid these fires, please do not place vapes in your normal household rubbish or recycling bins. Instead, visit recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to find vape recycling points near you.
All retailers selling vape products must now offer a recycling bin for vape products, and you don’t need to be a customer to use a store’s vape recycling bin. |
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Ash dieback | |
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The council is calling on residents to play their part in keeping the countryside green by helping the council identify and manage diseased ash trees.
Ash dieback has wiped out thousands of ash trees across the UK. The highly destructive disease is caused by a fungus and can lead to infected trees shedding branches or limbs, or potentially falling as the tree dies.
There are no exact figures for the number of ash trees in Leicestershire, but it is estimated that there are more than half a million in the county, with around 120,000 of them at the side of roads.
Many of the trees are on private land, and the council is working to raise awareness of the issue among residents, businesses and landowners to remind them of their responsibility to ensure their trees do not become a hazard to road users and member of the public using footpaths.
We have created a booklet full of help and advice on ash dieback, including clear information on the steps which landowners with infected trees on their land need to take to halt the spread of the disease. The booklets have been supplied to Leicestershire’s tree wardens to support their work with landowners, and are available to download from the council’s website.
| Barbecue waste |
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A barbecue with friends and family on a hot summer day can be a delight, but hosting can be expensive.
A simple way to lower costs is to minimise food waste. For example, around half of BBQ hosts admit that they intentionally over cater in an attempt to impress their guests. That naturally leads to uneaten food, and often a dilemma for the host who’s unsure if it’s safe to store and re-use surplus that been left out in the sun.
We’ve put together some tips to help you portion perfectly, and to help you minimise food waste. You’ll also find advice on dealing with other common sources of waste from al-fresco dining which could help you to cut your costs and your carbon footprint.
Given the extremely hot and dry start to the year, preventing fires from BBQs is also a top priority. You might also find our guidance on safely disposing of BBQ coals, ashes and gas bottles helpful too.
Read more at:
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We have created a map to enable you to find organisations and services that can help reduce your waste. This includes places like ReHome Zones, where items can be left for reuse, refill shops, community fridges, fixer groups and much more. If it helps reduce waste, it should be listed on the map and easy to find.
Organisations are also being asked to sign up to join the map and they can do this on the Lesswaste website by completing a form; eligible organisations will then be added to the map. It is hoped that by making it easier to find places to repair, refill and reuse items it will become more accessible, and people can keep items in use for longer or avoid excess packaging.
We hope you will visit the map and find places that can help you reduce waste. Please also send this link to any organisations you know and encourage them to get listed, so spread the message.
To find organisations you can visit or for eligibility to be listed and to sign up, please visit our website. |
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Wear, Care & Repair - videos |
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There’s a popular misconception that tents left at festivals will be collected and donated to charities, which contributes to the 250,000 tents abandoned at music festivals in the UK each year.
In fact, 90% of abandoned tents are never reused and are thrown away. If you are attending a music festival this summer, please take your tent home with you then reuse, rehome or sell it.
Carefully choosing your festival wardrobe and avoiding single use items such as water bottles are also great ways of reducing unnecessary waste at festivals. You’ll find more advice below.
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Contamination (putting waste in the wrong bin) causes a problem at our Recycling and Household Waste Sites (RHWS) and other waste transfer and treatment facilities.
There are particular issues caused by gas bottles, batteries/vapes, asbestos, plasterboard, hazardous liquids and upholstered furniture going into the wrong containers. These can cause explosions, fires and release toxic gases that pose a risk to the safety of staff, environmental harm and/or delays in emptying bins that can then affect site capacity.
Please remember to ensure that you put the correct items in the correct bins when you visit our sites and ask site staff for guidance if you’re ever in doubt. |
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Just a reminder that our Recycling and Household Waste Sites can become very busy — especially at weekends, during school holidays and over bank holidays.
That can mean traffic queues at the sites, which can make the trip frustrating and longer than it needs to be. Please consider planning your visit during quieter periods, if you are able to.
By vising at a quieter times, you can help ease congestion and make your trip quicker and more efficient.
Visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/waste for opening times. |
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Get Ready Community Energy Fund
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Community groups and organisations across Leicestershire are being invited to apply for funding to kickstart renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in their local areas.
A total of £140,000 is available through the ‘Get Ready Community Energy Fund’ to support initiatives that contribute to the county’s transition to a low-carbon future and that benefit local communities.
The funding is part of the GreenerFuture Leicestershire project, an initiative led by Leicestershire County Council in partnership with Community Energy Pathways and Green Fox Community Energy to reduce carbon emissions and support sustainable energy solutions.
Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis. The deadline for final expressions of interest and project plan submissions is 8 September, with final grant spending required by 28 November 2025.
For more information on eligibility criteria and to apply please visit the GreenerFuture Leicestershire website at greenerfutureleicestershire.co.uk/about-community-energy or email netzero@leics.gov.uk.
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Residents are urged to check their meters |
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It is estimated that up to 11,000 households in Leicestershire may have Radio Teleswitch Service meters for their electricity supply.
The radio signal controlling these meters is being switched off from the 30 June and for those affected this could mean incorrect charges for electricity and impact the correct functioning of heating and hot water systems.
Energy suppliers are writing to affected households to advise on having a free smart meter upgrade to ensure systems can continue to work as intended. Households affected are encouraged to act now.
For more advice visit the dedicated Ofgem advice pages or speak to your energy supplier without delay.
Warm Homes advice
The Warm Homes team are here to help with advice on how to reduce energy costs and keep the home warmer for winter. With the energy price cap having risen 6.4% in April the cost of heating homes may be a concern.
Our Warm Homes Support Officers can give practical advice such as setting boiler controls for efficiency, and signpost to any funding options available for home energy efficiency measures (subject to eligibility and survey). A well-insulated home could reduce energy costs significantly and reduce carbon emissions.
Further information regarding managing energy costs is available via our Warm Homes Booklet and home energy efficiency grant schemes that maybe available can be found by clicking on the below button. Financial support is available some schemes do not require income criteria in order to receive support. The Warm Homes team can help residents to navigate the range of offers to identify those that may be relevant.
To be notified of any new grant schemes, sign up to our newsletter. You can also make a self-referral or professional referral to our Warm Homes team for advice via the page below or call us on 0116 305 2524.
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Dino T-Reks |
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Unleash the family fun with our Dino T-Reks walking trails! Prehistoric prowlers will be popping up in Leicestershire this summer – where will you find them?
Choose How You Move have teamed up with QuestR to unleash Dino T-Reks all over the county. Designed by local schoolchildren, these dino drawings are roaming the parks of Leicestershire to make walking, cycling and wheeling appealing for all the family!
Plus, you could be in with a chance of winning prizes with our walks! Scan the QR code on each trail marker and unscramble the letters to make a word related to active travel. Who can walk with dinosaurs and guess the word first?
Walk with us on 16 July at Melton Country Park for our launch event or join us at your local park. Find out more about participating parks and local events by visiting the Choose How You Move website, or choosehowyoumove.co.uk/dino-t-reks.
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Environment Matters newsletter sign up |
If there is anyone you know that would be interested in signing up to Environment Matters, please forward them the website link below. |
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