Recycling - projects and campaigns

Community Waste Reduction, Reuse & Recycling Fund

This fund has been designed to enable community groups, charitable organisations and social enterprises to carry out waste reduction, reuse and recycling events within local communities.

So if you want to run a swap shop for unwanted items and need some funding to hire a venue and advertise your event, or if you would like to set up a community composting area or if you have any other ideas, please download the information pack.

Recycling roadshows

You will see our reycling team out and about at events and locations, such as

local supermarkets, giving advice on waste minimisation and our reycling services including our

separate weekly food waste collections

Green Santa Event

You may have seen our Green Santa Sleigh in the Mall in Maidstone, collecting unwanted Christmas presents and good quality items for reuse.

Green Santa Event

Items were donated to one of the Mayors charities, Age UK and sold through the Age UK shop in Maidstone to raise funds. Age UK raises awareness of issues affecting older people, researches and campaigns for changes in policy and practice and offers practical support to disadvantaged older people.

There are many charities who will benefit from such donations, please think about donating items where possible instead of throwing away!

recycling roadshow

'Love Food Hate Waste' Campaign

A third of all the food we buy in the UK we throw away. Wasted food is a waste of money and a major contributor to climate change, and the most frustrating thing is that most of what we throw away could have been eaten. Love Food hate Waste is a campaign from WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) that provides tasty leftover recipes, practical advice and top tips that helps us cut back on wasting food.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Transformer model made from old electrical items

This campaign is designed to encourage people

to take old or broken electrical appliances to the local household waste recycling site, where they will be sent off to a local reprocessor for recycling.

In particular, many small items

such as broken hairdryers, shavers, kettels,

toasters and irons end up being thrown away

when they can be recycled.

Staff gave out information during a promotion in the Council's Gateway reception.

A huge 'Transformer' model made from old electrical equipment was used to demonstrate some of the electrical items that can be recycled.

Educational Work

Recycled Dalek by the children of North Borough primary School

The Environmental Education Officer co-ordinates and runs educational sessions with schools across the borough.

The aim to raise awareness of the importance of recycling, composting and reducing domestic waste, as well as looking after the environment and keeping the borough clean and tidy.

Primary school children are invited to take part in our litter competition, year 3 & 4 children can write a poem or rhyme about the hazards of litter, the winners will receive a novelty litter bin for their school. For more information please contact alisonsollis@maidstone.gov.uk

If your school or club would like a visit regarding waste reduction,recycling or littering please contact Alison Sollis on 01622 602281, or email alisonsollis@maidstone.gov.uk sessions/talks can be adapted according to your needs.