Islanders Asked To Be Egg-Cellent Recyclers This Easter

Islanders are being wished a Happy Easter by their local waste and recycling service.

Household waste and recycling collections will continue as usual over the long Easter weekend, with collections as normal on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

The bulky waste and free re-use collection service is still available over this period also. Book your slot online at www.iow.gov.uk/waste

The Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) at Lynnbottom and Afton Marsh will also be operating normal hours, but you must book your visit online beforehand.

You can also book your visit via www.iow.gov.uk/waste

Top tips for a waste free Easter

This Easter think Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Here’s some tips to get you started:

Reduce

• How about buying flowers or vegetable seeds instead of an Easter egg?
• If you want to give an egg, look for ones with minimal plastic or why not make your own?
• Send an e-card: save paper by sending an electronic greeting to friends and family, or make your own collage card from scraps of paper.
• Get crafty: make your own Easter decorations such as turning a can into an Easter rabbit.

Reuse

• Food waste: With the average family throwing away more than £700 worth of perfectly edible food each year, advice on food waste reduction and recipes for leftovers can all be found at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
• Try not to over-estimate the amount of food you’ll need over the Easter break. The Love Food Hate Waste website has great ideas for some delicious Easter leftovers inspiration. But what about the food waste you can’t eat, such as egg shells or the base of a lettuce? These can go in your food waste caddy.
• If you don’t have an indoor/outdoor food caddy, you can order one at www.iow.gov.uk/waste or contact the waste team at (01983) 823777.

Recycle

• Recycle as much you can; choose Easter eggs that come in less packaging, or at least in recyclable packaging. Plastic goes in your green bin/reusable sack and cardboard in your paper/card insert or blue reusable sack.
• If you do opt for a traditional card, ensure it does not have any glitter or bows on it as this means it cannot be recycled. Plastic wrappers (the sort with coloured plastic and foil attached) are unable to be recycled so goes in your black bin/black sack. This is because we are currently unable to separate the foil from the coloured plastic during the recycling process.