March 2025 news

View our news items from March 2025.

Reduce your food waste this Food Waste Action Week

We are proud to support Love Food Hate Waste’s Food Waste Action Week from 17 – 23 March 2025. Food Waste Action Week is the flagship annual event delivered by WRAP’s Love Food Hate Waste campaign, helping residents reduce their waste at home.

This year’s focus is on buying loose fruit and vegetables, which helps reduce waste and saves shoppers money. On average, wasted food costs £20 per person per month—or £80 for a family of four. Buying loose means purchasing only what you need, cutting waste, and reducing plastic use. WRAP’s research suggests that if more fruit and vegetables were sold loose, it could save 100,000 tonnes of food and 13,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year.

In West Sussex, around a third of the average rubbish bin is food waste—most of which is avoidable. In fact, 70% could have been eaten at some point prior to being thrown away. Of that, 41% is just not used in time and 25% is binned because too much has been cooked. By shopping smarter and storing food correctly, we can make a real impact.

To mark the occasion we will be hosting a variety of waste prevention stands across West Sussex where you can get free waste prevention tools, advice and enter our raffle to win a free compost bin. For full event details, please see the upcoming waste prevention events section at the bottom of this newsletter. 

For our top tips on how to reduce your food waste, visit our website, or watch our video below:

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Spring and summer opening hours return to Recycling Centres next month

From April 1 2025, Recycling Centres across West Sussex will switch to their extended spring/summer opening hours. As many of us begin tidying our gardens or clearing out our homes, Recycling Centres can become very busy over the summer period. Extending the hours helps manage this increased demand.

Don't forget, to visit any of the Recycling Centres you will need to book an appointment online. Bookings can be made on the day or up to two weeks in advance and are for 15 or 30 minutes, depending on the site. The booking system provides visitors with more time and opportunity to recycle, by ensuring items are disposed of in the correct area, rather than just being put into general waste.

It also enables staff more time to offer recycling advice and divert more materials to recycling. You can read more information and book a slot on our website.

Reduce your waste this Mothers Day

This month marks Mother’s Day (30 March). This year, why not celebrate in a way that also cares for the planet? By making a few simple choices, you can reduce waste while still making the day extra special. Here are some thoughtful, low-waste ideas to consider:

  • Rather than giving material gifts, opt for experiences that create cherished memories. 
  • Handmade gifts are not only heartfelt but also help reduce waste. Use materials you already have to craft something special, such as a scrapbook of shared memories, or a homemade treat.
  • Traditional wrapping paper often contains plastic making it non-recyclable. Instead, try wrapping gifts with reusable fabric, old maps, or newspaper for a unique and sustainable touch. 
  • Flowers are a classic Mother’s Day gift, but they often come wrapped in plastic and have a short lifespan. Consider gifting a potted plant instead – there are lots of lovely nurseries and plant shops right here in West Sussex!

If you receive gifts this year, check if the wrapping paper is recyclable by doing the scrunch test—if it stays scrunched, it can go in the recycling bin! Remember, envelopes and cards can also be recycled, and once flowers start to wilt, they can be composted rather than thrown away.

It's Repair Week...

It's currently Repair Week and we are encouraging residents to ask themselves: can you give your broken electricals a second chance? Many of the electricals that are dropped off for recycling are still in working condition or could be repaired. And here's the kicker: it's often cheaper to have something fixed than to buy new! Plus it's better for the planet too.

So, if your old toaster is in need of a new part, or your phone needs a new screen, why not learn to repair it yourself, or take it to your local repair cafe? You could also reach out to the manufacturer to make use of their repair services! Find your closest repair cafe using the West Sussex Community Climate Action Map.

And remember, if you can’t repair, sell or donate it, recycle it! Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled. Use the Recycle Your Electricals Locator to find your local donation and recycling drop-off points.

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.

March and April events

  • Saturday 1 March (10.00am to 3.00pm) - Handmade Craft Market, The Kiln, 30-32 The Martlets, Burgess Hill, RH15 9NN
  • Friday 7 March (10.00am to 12 noon) - Food Waste Action Week Information Stand, East Witterings Library, 38 Oakfield Ave, East Wittering, Chichester, PO20 8BT
  • Thursday 13 March (10.00am to 12 noon) - Food Waste Action Week Information Stand, Chichester Library, Tower Street, Chichester, PO19 1QJ
  • 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) - Food Waste Action Week Information Stand at UKHarvest Community Food Hub, Chanctonbury Leisure Centre, Storrington, RH20 4PG
  • Saturday 29 March (10.00am to 6.00pm) - Waste prevention stand at Chichester Good Food for All Feastival. North Street and East Street, Chichester City Centre. Chichester.
  • Wednesday 2 April (9.30am to 11.00am) - Food Waste Action Week Info Stand at Food Hub, Bognor Youth & Community Centre, Westloats Lane, Bognor Regis, PO21 5JZ
  • Thursday 3 April (9.30am to 11.00am) - Food Waste Action Week Info Stand at Food Hub, Sylvia Beaufoy Centre, Petworth, GU28 0ET
  • Friday 4 April (9.30am to 11.00am) - Food Waste Action Week Info Stand at Food Hub, Ascension Church, Haywards Heath, RH16 4JS
  • Friday 4 April (1.00pm to 4.00pm) - Clothes and Book Swap, The Chapel, Graylingwell Drive, Chichester, PO19 6BZ
  • Wednesday 9 April (9.30am to 11.00am) - Food Waste Action Week Info Stand at Food Hub, Southwick Community Centre, Southwick Street, Southwick BN42 4TE
  • Saturday 26 April (from 10.00am) - Lindfield Spring Clean, King Edward Hall, Lindfield, RH16 2HH
  • Saturday 26 April - Midhurst Rother College Community Day, Midhurst Rother College, North St, Midhurst, GU29 9DT
  • Saturday 26 April (10.00am to 4.00pm) - Plant to Plate Festival, Sussex Green Hub, United Reformed Church, 45 Springfield Road, Horsham, and various other locations, RH12 2RG