February 2025 news

View our news items from February 2025.

Love your plastics this February

This month, we're shining a spotlight on plastic recycling in West Sussex. Recycled plastic can be transformed into new products such as fleeces, pillows, or new plastic bottles.

In West Sussex, we can recycle plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays of any colour, as long as they are empty, clean, dry and loose, including:

  • milk and drink bottles (squashed, with lids replaced)
  • bathroom bottles, including roll-on deodorants (squashed, with lids replaced)
  • laundry and detergent bottles and tubs (squashed, with lids replaced)
  • washing-up liquid bottles (squashed, with lids replaced)
  • yoghurt, cream and soup pots
  • ice cream and margarine tubs
  • cosmetic pots and tubs
  • food and ready-meal trays
  • fruit and vegetable punnets
  • squeezy toothpaste tubes
  • plastic container lids (about the size of a coffee jar lid or larger)

Items such as carrier bags, crisp packets, bread bags and other soft plastics are not suitable for home recycling bins. However, many supermarkets offer soft plastic recycling schemes for this type of packaging. If you cannot access these facilities, dispose of soft plastics in your general waste bin.

To better understand what can and cannot be recycled in your household recycling bin, and to learn more about the recycling process, we encourage you to watch our informative video series. These videos explain the importance of proper recycling practices and provide insights into the journey of plastic recycling.

You can also find out more information on recycling in West Sussex on our website.

Reduce your waste this Valentines Day

It's almost Valentine's Day! While Valentine's Day is a wonderful opportunity to express love and affection, it doesn't have to come at the expense of the environment. By making mindful choices, we can celebrate while minimising waste. Here are some of our favourite ideas:

Thoughtful experiences over material gifts - Instead of purchasing physical items, consider gifting experiences that create lasting memories without generating waste. This could include a romantic walk, a homemade candlelit dinner, or a visit to a local art exhibition.

Low waste cards and messages - Traditional Valentine's Day cards often end up in the bin. Opt for digital e-cards or, if you prefer a physical card, choose ones made from recycled materials. Better yet, craft a handmade card using materials you already have at home for a more personal touch.

Rethink flowers - While flowers are a classic Valentine's gift, they often don’t last long and come wrapped in plastic. Consider giving a potted plant that can be enjoyed for years or skip the flowers altogether.

Recycle and compost - Once you’ve reduced your waste as much as possible, don’t forget to recycle everything you can! Items that can be recycled in your household bin include cards and wrapping paper (unless they are glittery, metallic, or foil-based), clean takeaway containers, empty wine and beer bottles and plastic sweet and chocolate containers. Items to avoid include balloons, teddy bears and plastic wrapping. You can also compost flowers once they start to wilt.

Visit our blog post for more of our top tips on a low waste Valentines day.

Waste Prevention Community Grant Fund - applications now open

The Waste Prevention Community Grant Fund is now open for applications. The application portal will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 2 March 2025.

This fund is designed to empower local community groups, schools, charities and social enterprises to take innovative steps toward reducing household waste. With grants of up to £5,000 available, this is a fantastic opportunity to bring new waste prevention ideas to life and help reduce waste in West Sussex!

In January, we hosted a webinar to answer any questions and guide participants through the application portal and process. If you were unable to attend, the webinar recording is now available on our YouTube channel.

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For more details on eligibility and how to apply, visit the Waste Prevention Community Grant Fund web page.

Get the latest updates

Here at West Sussex Recycles, we are passionate about reducing waste and encouraging recycling! That's why, on our social media channels, we post multiple times a week, featuring fun facts and the latest updates. Why not join our community, keep up to date and share your top tips on waste prevention and recycling?

Upcoming waste prevention events

Throughout West Sussex, we are proud to work alongside a team of passionate recycling and waste prevention volunteers. They attend public and private events to promote waste prevention, reuse, and recycling, and are eager to answer questions about the county's recycling services and waste reduction initiatives.

In addition to the public events listed below, we are participating in numerous privately hosted talks and events for local community groups, schools and other organisations. If you would like our team to give a talk, visit your school, attend an event, or if you would like more information, please contact us at: waste.prevention@westsussex.gov.uk.

We also support our partners at the district and borough councils with community outreach in selected areas, engaging residents on both recycling and waste prevention topics.

February and March events

  • Saturday 8 February (10.00am to 1.00pm) - Burgess Hill Repair Café, The Kiln (opposite New Look), Burgess Hill, RH15 9NN
  • Saturday 15 February (10.30am to 1.00pm) - Volunteer Recruitment Fair, Rustington Methodist Church, Claigmar Road, Rustington, BN16 2NL
  • Saturday 15 February (1.00pm to 3.00pm) - Cats Protection Charity Bazaar, Millennium Hall, Roffey, Crawley Road, Horsham, RH12 4DT
  • Tuesday 18 February (9.00am to 11.00am) - UKHarvest Super hub, Oving Jubilee Hall, High Street, Oving, PO20 2DQ
  • Tuesday 25 February (7.00pm to 9.30pm) - Waste prevention talk for Steyning Green Drinks, Saxon Room, Steyning Centre, Fletchers Croft, Steyning BN44 3XZ
  • Monday 17 March (10.00am to 4.00pm) - Food Waste Action Week Information Stand, Horsham Library, Lower Tanbridge Way, Horsham, RH12 1PJ
  • Wednesday 19 March (9.30am to 11.00am) - Food Waste Action Week Information Stand at Food Hub, Broadfield Community Centre, Broadfield Barton, Crawley RH11 9BA
  • Thursday 20 March (9.30am to 11.00am) - Food Waste Action Week Information Stand at UKHarvest Community Food Hub, Sidney Walter Centre, Sussex Road, Worthing, BN11 1DS
  • Friday 21 March (10.00am to 4.00pm) - Food Waste Action Week Information Stand, Crawley Library, Southgate Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6HG
  • Saturday 22 March (10.00am to 3.00pm) - Food Waste Action Week Information Stand, Worthing Library, Richmond Road, Worthing, BN11 1HD
  • Wednesday 26 March (9.30am to 11.00am, setup from 8.00am) - Food Waste Action Week Information Stand at UKHarvest Community Food Hub, Chanctonbury Leisure Centre, Storrington, RH20 4BG