Lewes District News – September 2026

Posted September 14, 2026

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Lewes District News – September 2026 – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Lewes district on track for best recycling year yet as Recycle Week begins

Lewes district is on course for a record year of recycling, thanks to residents’ efforts to cut their refuse and increase what they recycle from home.

As Recycle Week 2026 begins, Lewes District Council is highlighting the positive difference residents are making through their everyday recycling choices.

Latest provisional figures indicate the district’s recycling rate is expected to rise to 41.2%, for the year to March 2026, up from 39.9% from in 2024/25. The recycling is the proportion of dry mixed recycling, food waste and garden waste that Lewes district residents recycle rather than throwing away as refuse.

Each week, Lewes district collection crews currently collect around 160 tonnes of dry recycling, 90 tonnes of garden waste and 30 tonnes of food waste each week. Garden and food waste is taken to be turned into soil conditioner and used by local farmers and gardeners.

Councillor Wendy Maples, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Wellbeing, said: “Recycle Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the efforts being made by residents across our district. Every recycling bin and food waste caddy collected by our crews is helping us reduce waste, cut carbon emissions and make better use of valuable resources.

“We’re delighted that the district is on track for its strongest recycling performance yet. We are proud to have been the first council in East Sussex to offer separate food waste collections and I’d like to thank residents for embracing the service and playing their part.”

For most residents, food waste collections take place weekly on the same day as their refuse and recycling collections, but at a different time of day. For more details, including how to sign-up for this free service via the link in the comments.

Councillor Maples added: “One of the most important messages during Recycle Week is to recycle the right items in the right way. When everyone does their bit, we can recycle more material, reduce contamination and ensure valuable resources stay in use for longer.

“If residents are ever unsure whether an item can be recycled a quick check of our Recycling A to Z could save it from going in the bin.”

Residents can find out what can and cannot be recycled by using Recycle Now’s recycling locator or by visiting the council’s A-Z of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle guide.

Recycle Week, organised by Recycle Now, is the nation’s biggest annual celebration of recycling and runs from September 14 to 20.

Make your food waste caddy easy to spot

As the mornings get darker, please help our collection crews by placing your food waste caddy somewhere that is clearly visible and easy to find alongside your larger bin on collection day.

A visible caddy helps crews complete collections efficiently and reduces the chance of bins being accidentally missed in low-light conditions.

Please also be considerate of your neighbours and other pavement users.

Position bins and caddies so they don’t block footpaths, ensuring pedestrians, wheelchair users, pushchairs and those with mobility aids can move safely along the pavement.

Find out more about the food waste service lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/foodwaste

Help keep our streets clear of fly-tipping

Fly-tipping affects everyone in our community. It can make our neighbourhoods look untidy and run down, cause harm to people and the environment, and costs money to investigate and clear. Many people picture fly-tipping as a large load of waste dumped where it should not be, but it can also mean leaving just one item that our household waste crews cannot collect beside your bin or out on the street.

Common examples include mattresses, electrical items, and bags of rubbish. According to Keep Britain Tidy, household waste is the most common type of dumped waste and accounted for 60% of recorded fly-tipping incidents in England in 2023/24.

If a fly-tip is already there, please do not add to it. Even if a fly-tip has already been reported for removal adding to it is still illegal and makes the problem and the cost of dealing with it greater.

There are plenty of better ways to dispose of unwanted items. If they can still be used, consider taking them to a charity shop or booking a free Anglo Doorstep Collection

If items are no longer usable, you can take them to your local Household Waste Recycling Site.

If you are unable to dispose of a large household item yourself, our bulky waste collection service may be able to help. If you are not sure whether something can be put out with your household rubbish or recycling, please check our A to Z of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle first.

A quick, eco-friendly way to declutter

Having a clear-out? We’ve teamed up with Anglo Doorstep Collections to make it easier than ever to give your preloved items a second life – and help the environment too!

Here’s how it works in 3 simple steps:

Pack up any good-quality items you no longer need
Book a free collection at a time that suits you
Your items are reused, rehomed, and kept out of refuse

As well as reducing items going to waste by recycling or rehoming them, the Anglo Doorstep Collection service donates a portion of the proceeds to partnered charities of your choice.

Ready to get started? Find out more and book a collection:

anglodoorstepcollections.co.uk/lewes-district-council

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