With the bank holiday weekend almost upon us, thoughts turn to holidays by the beach, festival frolics or simply unwinding at home in the garden with a family barbecue.
We can all picture the scene, the barbecue is sizzling, the conversation is flowing and a feast is being had. But as the coals start to cool, no one wants to be left with all the cleaning up.
If you’re planning a gathering this bank holiday weekend then why not make it easy on yourself by providing a container for people to place their empty drinks cans, cartons and bottles in? As long as they are clean, dry and loose – not wet, dirty or tied in plastic bags – these can be recycled.
With packets of burgers or sausages, the outer cardboard can be recycled but not the plastic inner containing the food. The plastic trays, along with your coleslaw tubs, can go in your rubbish bin.
Consider using plates and cutlery that can be washed and used again rather than disposable products that cannot be recycled or reused.
If you use a disposable aluminium barbecue, make sure the used tray is not placed in a recycling bin. Smouldering barbecues/coals can cause fires, so please take extra care to ensure they are completely cold before putting in your rubbish bin.
For gas barbecues, your empty canisters can be disposed of at one of the Household Waste Recycling Sites. Please don’t put them in your rubbish or recycling bin as they are explosive.
If you’re enjoying a picnic or day out any leftover waste should of course be taken home and binned.
Lionel Barnard, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services said: “Picnics and barbecues are a great opportunity to teach younger family members the importance of recycling.
“Why not get them involved and helping out by giving them small jobs to do? Just remember to think clean, dry and loose when recycling.
“And please put safety first – if you are barbecuing, make sure everything is completely cold before disposing of it.”
For more information about recycling at home or to find your nearest Household Waste Recycling Site, please visit
www.recycleforwestsussex.org
For information about waste and recycling collections over the bank holiday, please contact your local district or borough council. Details on how to contact your local council can be found at www.recycleforwestsussex.org