Provide sustainable waste management and support residents to reduce, reuse and recycle

Colchester is in the top 30 local authorities for our recycling rates and were recognised as the most recycling conscious town in June 2022. However, it’s not just about recycling, we also need to reduce the amount of waste we produce and use (such as single use plastic packaging) and looking at ways we can reuse more of the things we have to reduce waste (such as keeping clothes for longer or buying things from charity shops rather than new things).

Below are several projects the Council is working on to support recycling and reduce waste production:

• Working to discourage littering by supporting relevant campaigns. The Council also provides litter picking equipment for residents to use to help keep their local areas free of rubbish
• Providing a recycling service which enables people to separate and recycle glass, cans, plastics, paper and card, food waste, garden waste and more. The Council will be working to understand ways that waste can be collected more efficiently and to trial new ways of collecting food waste
• Working with University of Essex, to explore the barriers local businesses face to reducing their use of single-use plastics and how solutions could be developed to help with the removal of these barriers.

Case study: Litter picking hubs

We appreciate the help of residents who want to help us keep Colchester green and clean by picking up litter. The Council is trying to make this easier for residents to do by expanding on our Litter Warriors programme, and providing litter picking hubs. These hubs (as pictured below) provide a place for residents to litter pick on the go, with all litter picking equipment provided in one area.

The number of these hubs is increasing across the city, and if you would be keen to see one set up in your local area, please email climate.change@colchester.gov.uk.

A litter picking hub, providing litter picking equipment including gloves, bags and litter pickers for people to pick up rubbish ‘on the go’.