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These new calendars for recycling, garden waste and general waste collections can now be downloaded to help you keep on track over the winter.
Some collection days change over the festive period to allow for bank holidays so please check yours carefully.
Garden waste collections also become monthly during December, January and February, and there is a six-week break over the Christmas period so crews can help with the increased recycling and waste.
Reduce your waste this Christmas
About 200 tonnes of extra recycling was collected in North Somerset over the festive period last year - about the weight of one blue whale.
Thanks to you all for your efforts in wasting less and recycling more – but could we also reduce and reuse more too?
Christmas may be a time for over-indulgence but there are ways to be more mindful, which will help save you money and improve your carbon footprint too.
Top tips:
- invest in a re-usable advent calendar you can use year after year, or get creative and make your own. It can become a family tradition, filled with whatever you like – perhaps even healthier alternatives to chocolate
- consider sending e-cards. If you do buy cards, avoid ones decorated with glitter as these aren’t recyclable
- DIY and preloved Christmas jumpers can be just as jolly. Maybe decorate a jumper or cardigan you already own or check out your local charity shop
- choose reusable, recyclable or plastic-free options for crackers, napkins and decorations
- plan your festive food - write and stick to a shopping list, portion food, store it correctly and love your leftovers. More information about reducing food waste and saving money can be found on the Love Food Hate Waste website
- no wrapping paper can be recycled in North Somerset this year so swap it for reusable gift bags and wraps, or homemade wrapping paper. You could decorate recyclable brown paper or newspaper and add reusable ribbons. Wrapping paper is difficult to recycle because there are so many varieties and most are mixed with unrecyclable items such as foil, glitter, ribbon, and tape. The whole load will be rejected by the paper mill and disposed of as general waste if too much incorrect material is included, resulting in high costs and transport emissions. Instead, wrapping should go in your black bin, where we take it to the Energy From Waste plant in Avonmouth.
Follow the recycling team on Facebook or X for more updates and festive tips.
Stay safe with batteries
Batteries ending up in the wrong place have caused lorry and bin fires this year.
Last month, Avon Fire and Rescue Service crews were called out when one of our general waste lorries in Long Ashton began to smoke.
The cause was believed to be a battery pack from a mobility scooter which had been put in the black bin general waste.
Thanks to their quick response, no-one was hurt and no serious damage was done.
Please don’t put batteries in your black bin waste.
Household batteries can be recycled in your kerbside recycling box - just place them in a loosely-tied clear bag on the top of the box so crews can see them clearly.
Larger batteries must be taken to your local recycling centre.
Also remove all batteries from small electrical items, such as toys, before recycling them separately.
Disposable vapes are another cause of bin fires. These contain lithium-ion batteries which easily catch fire if broken.
Recycle disposable vapes in your recycling box in the same way you would a battery - put them in a separate clear bag on top of the box.
Tickets still available for Climate Literacy Action Day
Tickets are still available for a free training day which will help local people and businesses kickstart their journey to net zero.
Global Carbon Literacy Action Day takes place on Monday 4 December and to mark the occasion we’re hosting a free event in Weston-super-Mare.
Carbon Literacy is the understanding of the causes and impacts of our everyday greenhouse gas emissions.
This fundamental awareness offers a starting point for making real change in the way we tackle the climate emergency, as individuals, a community or organisation.
Carbon Literacy training, which usually costs £125 per person, will help you understand the implications of climate change, how to save energy costs, and inspire you to make changes both at home and work.
We remain committed to tackling the climate emergency and are continuing to work towards becoming a carbon neutral area by 2030, despite the recent rollback in the UK government’s net zero goals.
There will be a line-up of industry-specific guest speakers during the free event at the Winter Gardens in Weston-super-Mare.
Register your interest on our website.
The training has been funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.