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December 2023

Christmas and New Year refuse
collection changes

Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays will have an impact on waste and recycling collection services for every household across the borough this year.

Garden waste and bulky waste services will be suspended from Monday 25 December to restart on Monday 8 January - so staff can be used to support other front line services.

Other Waste and Recycling collections will change as follows:

Monday 25 December -your collection will be completed early on Saturday 23 December.

For Christmas week, from Tuesday 26 December- collections normally scheduled on Tuesday to Friday, will all be completed one day later than usual.

For New Year week, commencing Monday 1 January - all collections will be completed one day later than usual.

All services return to normal on Monday 8 January.

Waste tonnages can increase by up to 20% over Christmas, greatly increasing the recycling opportunities. Residents are advised to visit www.maidstone.gov.uk/mybin or email recycling@maidstone.gov.uk to check if an item can be recycled and any excess recycling can be placed in a cardboard box or similar open container.

Due to the increase in tonnage all collections will run slightly slower than usual, residents are reminded that bins must be available from 6.00am. Please park cars considerately so that the collection vehicles can gain access into all roads.

We are here to help, any questions about household waste and
recycling services in Maidstone, please contact us at
recycling@maidstone.gov.uk

Top Tips for a More Sustainable Christmas

Christmas is a time of year when the potential for waste, over consumption and mass shopping is high, but small changes can make all the difference in reducing our environmental footprint.

WE can make a difference this year! Here are our top tips:

• When Christmas comes, we can all be a little more wasteful with our food. Buy only what you need and donate any unopened, non-perishable items to a local food bank. Use your food bins for any food waste that you throw away.
• Over half of UK adults say they have received gifts they don't want at Christmas. When buying gifts think quality over quantity. Alternatively gift an experience to your loved ones and reduce the demand for physical resources.
• Avoid glitter,although pretty, glitter is difficult to recycle and may escape into the environment. Avoid buying anything that's decorated with glitter, including wrapping paper and Christmas cards.
• Reuse wrapping paper wherever possible or make your own using newspaper or magazines. If you are buying new paper, go for a recycled variety.
• Buy local, whether it is gifts for your loved ones, or this years Christmas dinner, reduce your carbon footprint and buy local. Visit a local craft shop, farm shop or nearby farmer’s market for the best produce in our region.

Christmas Tree Recycling 2024 with
Heart of Kent Hospice

Are you planning on getting a real Christmas tree this year? Once the New Year comes, you’ll need to throw away your tree. The good news is that real trees can be recycled and shredded into chippings, or composted, and Heart of Kent Hospice can help you do that!

Last Christmas the Hospice recycled more than 600 trees and raised over £7,000 for the Hospice. This year the team of volunteers will collect your real spruce, fir or pine trees over three days on Friday 5, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 January 2024, from your front gate or driveway, meaning you don’t have to venture out in the cold!

There is a suggested donation of £15 per tree, which will go towards offering vital support to people living with a terminal illness, or experiencing bereavement, near you.

The Hospice can collect Christmas trees from the following postcodes: ME14, ME15 6, ME15 7, ME15 8, ME16, ME19, ME20, TN11 9, TN12 5, TN15 7,TN15 8 & TN15 9.

If you would like to find out more, please contact Heart of Kent Hospice community partnerships team on communitypartnerships@hokh.co.uk or call 01622 790195.

Take part in Maidstone’s climate change survey

We are asking residents to take part in Maidstone's climate change survey for their views on the actions and themes in the council’s current Climate Action Plan. In addition to seeking feedback on the themes and actions in the plan we are also interested in the actions you are taking, or are willing to take, to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergencies and the barriers that may prevent you from taking these actions.

Feedback received will help inform the delivery of the MBC Biodiversity and Climate Change action plan and explore ways the council can support and engage with residents.

The survey will take around 8 to 10 minutes to complete and closes on 1 January 2024.

Thanks for reading our Environmental Services update. Why not sign up to our other newsletters to find out more about what’s going on across Maidstone Borough.

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If you have any tips about recycling and how to minimise waste which others could use please let us know by emailing us at climateandbiodiversity@maidstone.gov.uk

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