Environment in focus

With the easing of lockdown household food waste has begun to rise again as people fall back into old habits. Which is why we need you to get on board for 2022 and prevent food being thrown away needlessly.

There is a huge environmental impact caused by chucking away good food. Not only the greenhouse gases created by producing the food that ends up not being used, but also the resources it takes to bring that food to you – water, land, energy, transport and hard labour. Not only is food waste bad for the environment, it hits you in the pocket too. Did you know the average Ashford family throws away £720 of edible food every year! We have pulled together three simple tips to help minimise food waste in your home. We are all busy so let’s be realistic, making just one change can make a huge difference: Plan your shopping and get more for your money – use a portion planner and food diary. Make your food last longer – freezing your food can minimise waste and can result in another dinner ticked off the list. Get more from your shopping and use what you buy – try experimenting with leftovers to make meals. For more tips to reduce your food waste have a look at Love Food Hate Waste website www.lovefoodhatewaste.com If food waste can’t be avoided then it should be put in your black and orange food caddy. To get bin-spiration and find out what you can put in your food caddy check out www.ashford.gov.uk/food-waste Food waste collected in the caddy is a useful resource that is turned into compost and energy, helping to power homes in Kent.

Save a trip to the tip Want to save a trip to the tip? Or develop green fingers ready to enjoy your garden this year? Then sign up to our garden waste service today. It has never been quicker or easier to sign up to our collection service, leaving you more time to enjoy your outdoor space. Visit www.ashford.gov.uk/garden-waste

The countdown is on for this year’s Great British Spring Clean from 24 March-10 April. Clean-ups will be taking place up and down the country and we are inviting residents, businesses, schools and community groups to become #litterheroes and get involved by running community litter picks. You can find all the information on how to arrange, hire equipment and guidance on our website

www.ashford.gov.uk/community-litter-pick

Litter Lotto Nationally more than two million pieces of litter are dropped every day! Despite Ashford Borough Council emptying over 1,230 litter bins a week and spending large sums on street cleansing across the borough, litter is still a problem. Which is why we are promoting Litter Lotto, which encourages people to bin their own litter. The app gives users the chance to win thousands of instant cash prizes each month, from £5 to £250, as well as the jackpot. All you have to do is simply bin your litter. All litter counts, from a single cigarette stub to a takeaway meal box. With every piece of litter binned you get another entry and more chances to win prizes.

The Big Tidy

The Big Tidy We hosted several Big Tidy events last year in Ashford town centre and Stanhope collecting more than 26 bags of litter, cleaning the bandstand and painted bollards. With over 40 volunteers from a mix of generations we thank you for coming out in force to help clean up your communities. It’s simple to take part in a Big Tidy event – all you do is turn up and get tidying, so why not come along to the next one in your area? You can find more information on the Big Tidy and upcoming events at

www.ashford.gov.uk/litter-free-ashford

Binfrastructure at Stanhope Have you seen these new bins around Stanhope in Ashford? Last year the council won a grant from the Resource Action Fund to look at Binfrastructure in the area. Working closely with Moat Housing and Morgan Sindall, we have managed to replace and re-site 40 litter bins to ensure there is a uniformed bin for the area and we have increased bin capacity locally by 22%. Installation was completed in December and we have already had a positive response from residents.

The Big Tidy The Big Tidy

Get to grips with Climate Action

Let’s face it, science is not everyone’s cup of tea and when we talk about climate change there is an overwhelming amount of information to get to grips with.

Scientists have been talking about climate change and the ‘greenhouse effect’ for decades, but do we fully understand what it means or what we need to do to help? That’s why we are going to make a pledge to the planet and break down this huge and sometimes confusing subject throughout the year into bite-sized chunks, focussing on one topic at a time so you can feel more knowledgeable and empowered to help where you can.

So what is meant by climate change/ global warming? “The process of our planet heating up which causes changes to the weather/climate mainly due to the increased levels of carbon dioxide in the air, produced by the use of fossil fuels” Small changes you make in your home can not only make a huge difference to help minimise climate change, but also save energy and lower your bills. Here are our top three tips:

1. Turn off your lights when you’re not using them or when you leave a room – this can save you around £14 a year on your annual energy bills. 2. Wash your clothes on a 30-degree cycle instead of higher – this can save you around £10 a year on energy bills. 3. Aim to keep your shower time to just four minutes – this could save you around £45 a year on energy bills and further savings on water! For more tips on how to be more energy efficient visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/hub/

quick-tips-to-save-energy

Make sure you keep an eye on the council’s social media channels throughout the year for information and tips on what you can do to help the planet.