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Foreword
 
From Councillor Blake Pain,
Lead Member for the Environment and the Green Agenda
 
 
Leicestershire County Council has a long-standing commitment to reduce the county's waste and conserve our natural environment. In early June, we launched a new plan outlining 'action for nature' in the county. This includes an ambitious target to plant 700,000 trees in the county, which is one for every resident, as well as raising awareness of biodiversity. Earlier this month, the council also took part in Clean Air Day (June 17) - the UK's largest air pollution campaign. 
 
As a county councillor and cabinet member, I believe that we all have a part to play in protecting the environment. Collectively, we can make a considerable positive difference in our communities - whether that is by recording invasive species, educating ourselves about waste reduction or applying for a SHIRE Environment Grant. All of these actions – which you can read about in this newsletter - can help us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero county by 2045, as well as ensure a better future for all of Leicestershire's residents. 
 
I hope you enjoy this edition of Environment Matters, and join us in tackling the climate emergency locally. 
 
 
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KEEP NAPPIES OUT OF YOUR RECYCLING BIN

Leicestershire County Council and other local authorities around the country are working in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy to keep nappies out of the kerbside recycling. 

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the problem of nappy contamination in the recycling system and encourage behaviour change among nappy users. 

You may be surprised to hear that one third of nappy users are confused about whether nappies can be recycled at home. A helpful reminder is that disposable nappies, whether clean, wet or dirty, cannot be recycled, and this could save whole lorry loads of recycling from being treated as rubbish. 

You can find out more about recycling in Leicestershire as well as what can and cannot be put into your kerbside recycling bin on the Less Waste recycling page.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SEEN ANY SWIFTS?
 
Swifts are a species of bird that rely on global action to prevent their decline and eventual extinction. They move seasonally between countries to take advantage of warmer climatic conditions and the seasonal abundance of their insect food supply. We need to protect and provide nest sites and look after our insects.

If you are a community group wanting to offer more nest sites, or a business willing to donate resources, please click here to get involved today.
 
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EVENTS AND ONLINE TALKS
 
Now that Covid-19 restrictions are beginning to ease we are starting to see a number of events opening up throughout the county. 

The Waste Initiatives Team and Environment Action Volunteers are looking forward to getting out and about and speaking to people about ways in which they can reduce their waste, become better recyclers and compost at home. In addition to attending events, we also offer virtual options. 

There are several pre-recorded talks available to schools and community groups, as well as individuals, on a range of topics including recycling, composting, reuse, food waste and the Love Your Clothes initiative.  

Find out more by visiting the Talks and Education and What's On pages on the Less Waste website.  
 
 
LEARN ABOUT THE LATEST WASTE CONSULTATIONS
 
The Government have recently published three consultations concerning waste and recycling: Consistency in Household and Business Recycling in England, Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging. 

Further details about each of these consultations can be found on the Less Waste website.
 
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THE NEXT ROUND OF SHIRE ENVIRONMENT GRANTS ARE OPEN UNTIL 29TH OCTOBER 2021
 
 
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We are keen to support projects that can maintain or build on some of the positive environmental benefits that have arisen from the current COVID-19 situation, such as reduced carbon emissions, increased biodiversity, improved air quality, and greater appreciation of nature and green spaces. 

Grants of up to £3,000 are available for projects which: 

  • reduce the amount of household waste produced in Leicestershire 

  • reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions within communities 

  • improve biodiversity and support the creation, protection, enhancement and management of sustainable green spaces 

  • raise awareness and understanding on the above as well as providing necessary training and skills to manage and support projects 

A simplified application process is also available for small grants up to £300.

We have three application rounds for 2021/22.  The next round for applications closes on Friday 29th October 2021. 
Further details about the application process, including virtual workshops and information about previous successful projects, can be found by visiting the Leicestershire Communities website.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMMUNITY CARBON FOOTPRINT TOOL LAUNCHED
 
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The aim of Impact is to give small communities (parishes and towns) data on their carbon emissions that is easy to understand and easy to share.

It also gives them a clear idea of their main 'impact areas' – those places where focused community-based action can make the biggest contribution to cutting local emissions. 

Learn more about your carbon footprint here.
 
 
BE PLANT WISE: PREVENT INVASIVE AND NON-NATIVE SPECIES
 
An invasive and non-native species (INN's) is a species that has been introduced into the country by human intervention. These species are having a detrimental impact on the economy, wildlife, and habitats of Britain. 

You can be 'Plant Wise' by following these simple steps:  

  1. Reporting & recording INN species encountered locally.  
  2. Research garden plants before you buy them to make sure they are suitable for your needs, easy to dispose of, and won't be invasive. 
  3. Keep your plants in your garden - don't plant them, or allow them to grow, in the wild. 
  4. Dispose of your unwanted plants, roots, weeds, seeds, and seed heads responsibly (Compost with Care).

More useful tips can be found here. 
 
 
FREE ADULT EDUCATION COURSES NOW AVAILABLE
 
Leicestershire Adult Learning Service (LALS) have teamed up with the Waste Initiatives team to offer another round of free classes on waste reduction for the 2021-22 academic year. They will be held at venues across the county from September.

Classes will include: 
  • Healthy Eating – Zero Waste
  • Textile reuse
  • Reduce your use of single use plastics
Discover what the courses entail by visiting the Less Waste website.
 
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INTERNATIONAL COMPOST AWARENESS WEEK 2021

This year International Compost Awareness Week was rather different for us, we went entirely digital!  

The theme was 'Grow, Eat…COMPOST…Repeat' and was based on the circular movement of organic growing, flowing from farm to table to farm again. The circular process turns recycled organic materials into compost which creates healthy soils, leading to improved nutrients in the food and the peelings going back into the compost to start the process again.  

If you haven't tried making your own compost yet, then this year we would really encourage you to give it a go. There's plenty of guidance and support available on the Less Waste website and you can buy a subsidised compost bin here.
 
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THEATRE-IN-EDUCATION COMPANY GAZEBO PRESENT "INVASION OF THE FLINGATRONS"

June and July see a return of Theatre-in-Education company Gazebo, to Leicestershire schools. We have commissioned a further 50 interactive, performance-based workshops to Key Stage 2 pupils in primary schools across Leicestershire.

Gazebo are presenting "Invasion of the Flingatrons", a story about Katonia and her battle to save the future of Earth from the "Flingatrons". It aims to raise awareness of the key messages around reducing, reusing and recycling in a fun and engaging way. They deliver the workshop using an exciting range of performance, digital media, activities, games, and follow-up resources.  

Schools can book their FREE performance now by calling 01902 296199 or emailing info@gazebotheatre.com.
 
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FULLY FUNDED GREEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS AVAILABLE TO LEICESTERSHIRE HOUSEHOLDS
 
 
Leicestershire County Council is working with E.ON to provide energy inefficient households across the region with a range of improvements to support warmer homes, lower energy bills and cut carbon emissions. 

The Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme has been set up following a successful funding application award by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and runs until 30th September 2021. 

E.ON will assess properties to identify suitable measures, including those that may have been too expensive for residents to self-fund. These range from external wall insulation, air source heat pumps (low carbon heating), solar panels (renewable electricity generation) and energy efficient doors or windows, to smart heating controls, solid and cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. 

Eligible residents taking up the offer could save hundreds of pounds per year on fuel bills and benefit from a warmer, more comfortable home. 

The scheme is targeted at homeowners who can apply where their home has a lower Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G.  

For more information, view the Green Homes Grant webpage.
 
 
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This message was sent to emily.fox@leics.gov.uk.
 
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