Veolia (Nottinghamshire County Council’s waste and recycling partner) is asking everyone to be smart this Easter.
As a nation of chocolate lovers and do-it-yourselfers, Easter can be a busy time for your totes with more than double the usual amount of waste generated during the bank holiday weekend.
Around 80 million boxed chocolate eggs are sold each year in the UK, generating around 4,500 tonnes of packaging.
A study by Which? revealed that packaging alone accounts for up to a quarter of the total weight of the most popular Easter eggs for sale on the High Street, so this year try to choose your Easter egg with recycling in mind.
Manufacturers have taken consumers into account and reduced the amount of packaging in their products by moving away from single-use plastics and switching to materials that are largely recyclable.
Councilor Neil Clarke MBE, chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council‘s transport and environment committee, said:
“Chocolate egg makers have listened to public concerns and made significant improvements by reducing the amount of single-use plastic packaging for Easter eggs.
“Residents of Nottinghamshire can help the environment further by recycling any cardboard packaging after enjoying their chocolate eggs, but we must remember that foil and plastic Easter egg wrappers cannot be recycled. , so they must go in the general waste. trash.”
Easter weekend isn’t just a party – we know many of you will be working hard to improve your home or garden.
As one of the busiest times of the year for our recycling centers, please plan your visit. All of our locations are now open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every weekday (until September) so there are plenty of opportunities to remove your unwanted items.
Lea Hawkes, Chief Executive of Veolia Nottinghamshire, said:
“The four-day Easter weekend is traditionally one of the busiest times at our recycling centers as do-it-yourselfers get to work improving their homes. The sites can be particularly busy if the weather is good.
“To avoid waiting any longer than necessary, we ask that you plan your visit for a less busy time – we are now open daily until 8pm and the hours just before closing tend to be quieter.”
Top tips to remember when visiting your local recycling center:
- Recycling centers can be busy on weekends and public holidays, please try to avoid these peak times where possible.
- Try to visit when the sites are quieter such as Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and during the evening.
- If you arrive at a site and there is a line, please come back at a quieter time.
- Only waste from your own home in Nottinghamshire can be accepted and you must be registered. Register for free at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling/recycling-centres/using-our-recycling-centres/register
- You will save time on site if your waste is sorted before the visit.
- Following the easing of coronavirus restrictions, you can visit recycling centers with another adult if you need help unloading your waste and recycling
- Although you are no longer required to wear a face covering or observe social distancing, please continue to do so if you feel more comfortable
- If you need help, please ask a member of staff.