News and ideas

Competition to win a compost bin

Sunday 7 May 2023

Celebrate International Compost Awareness Week with a quick quiz about composting for a chance to win a HotBin Mini 100 litre compost bin.

Love Essex, Love Food

Tuesday 18 April 2023

Side board with fruit bowl, some pasta containers and a shopping list.

Do you want the chance to win £60 worth of supermarket vouchers each month? Sign the Essex Food Waste Pledge today!

Love Your Period

Wednesday 12 April 2023

Find out how reusable period products provide a great alternative to single-use disposable period products, offering great cost, health, and environmental benefits.

Get started with home composting in Essex

Monday 3 April 2023

Hand holding compost in front of an open compost bin hatch.

How to get started with home composting, with discounted compost bins and online training.

Essex recycling centre booking system

Monday 3 April 2023

From Monday 13 March 2023, residents visiting Essex County Council recycling centres will need to book in advance.

Top tips for recycling at Easter

Sunday 2 April 2023

Easter egg box with recycling information label.

Get our top tips for making sure you recycle correctly at Easter.

Freegle in Essex

Sunday 1 January 2023

Two smiling women holding shoes and cake moulds to swap.

Find out how to give and receive pre-loved items for free in your local community.

Eco shops in Essex

Sunday 1 January 2023

A line of containers in a refill shop, with dry ingredients contained inside for customers to buy.

Find local businesses near you that offer refill services and eco-friendly products.

New reuse opportunity at recycling centres

Monday 12 December 2022

Green recycling container with a Lighthouse donation point sign and an upright fridge.

Brentwood, Chelmsford, Clacton, and Harlow Recycling Centres now have donation points for residents to drop off their unwanted larger electrical appliances for the Lighthouse Furniture Project.

Love Essex Fund

Friday 30 September 2022

Have you got a project to reduce waste in Essex that you want to make a reality? Find out how you could receive up to £500 from the Love Essex Fund to support your idea.

Tips to improve your recycling

Monday 12 September 2022

Mother and daughter in the kitchen recycling items.

Find out how to improve your recycling with these quick and easy tips.

Recycling centre policy and site restrictions

Tuesday 19 July 2022

Vans and cars being unloaded at a recycling centre.

Only household waste is accepted at ECC recycling centres. Find out more about recycling centre policy and site restrictions, including items that are accepted.

Reduce food waste with Kitche

Monday 16 May 2022

Kitche it, don't ditch it text with a background of fruit and vegetables.

Love Essex are working with Kitche to help residents reduce their food waste and save money.

Ideas on how to reduce your household waste

Monday 9 May 2022

Find ideas on how to reduce your household waste in Essex, store recycling so it takes up less space and how to put your garden waste to better use.

Large and small recycling centres in Essex

Friday 1 April 2022

Recycling Centre for Household Waste road sign

There are two types of recycling centres in Essex, either large or small. Find out which sites are large or small, accepted items and site restrictions.

Recycling centre booking system for vans

Tuesday 25 January 2022

Find out how to book your visit to a recycling centre in a van.

Love Essex Champions

Sunday 18 July 2021

Love Essex are looking for enthusiastic people to help Essex residents waste less and recycle more.

Claim £30 refund on cloth nappies in Essex

Monday 8 March 2021

Smiling baby surrounded by piles of clean laundry

Switching to cloth nappies could save you hundreds of pounds. If you live in Essex, you can claim your £30 refund on any new or pre-loved nappies.

Ideas to help reduce your plastic

Wednesday 24 February 2021

Residents holding reusable water bottles and coffee cups for the Love Essex Plastics Campaign.

Find out how you can reduce your plastic waste in Essex by making some easy switches. Together we can make a difference.

Ways to donate your items

Monday 1 February 2021

Find ways to donate your items in Essex. Many local places accept secondhand furniture and white goods. Get rid of your stuff today.

How to love your clothes

Friday 1 January 2021

Find out how to reduce the amount of clothing and textiles thrown away in Essex, by learning to repair, mend and recycle your clothes,

What to do with old electricals

Monday 6 July 2020

Man fixing a coffee machine with a screwdriver.

Give broken electricals a new lease of life or find them a new home.

BLUEPRINT to a Circular Economy

Wednesday 1 April 2020

Project BLUEPRINT is an Interreg-funded European project led by Essex County Council. It will help local authorities move to a circular economy.

How to compost this spring

Sunday 1 March 2020

Find out how to compost at home during the spring season.

Fly-tipping in Essex

Tuesday 31 December 2019

Find out how to ensure your rubbish is not fly-tipped in Essex. It's a crime not to care what happens to your waste. Find out how to report fly-tipping incidents.

Can you afford to throw £150 away?

Red and white background with a yellow fiat in the background. Take away litter and cigarette butts

Keeping Essex clean and tidy costs the tax payer over £17 million a year. Throwing anything out of your vehicle, from fast food packaging to cigarette butts, will land you with a £150 fine. There is no excuse for littering.

How to stop junk mail

Don't let junk mail be the bane of your letterbox. Follow these steps to reduce it.