Discover how best to use your pumpkins this Halloween

There is plenty to get stuck into with the latest Love Essex newsletter including how best to use your pumpkins this Halloween, reducing household waste and more.

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Changes to recycling centre opening times

Now that it’s autumn, all recycling centres across Essex have changed their opening times. Sites will close at 4pm on the days they are open. This will continue until the end of February. Please familiarise yourself with the current restrictions and policies and opening times at your nearest recycling centre.  

Also, why not consider alternative ways to get rid of your unwanted items? 

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Apply for £500 grant for projects that reduce household waste

The next round of the Love Essex Fund is officially open. We’re looking for projects in Essex that are reducing household waste. Ideas include zero waste shops, repair cafes, baby banks and party kit hire. You can apply for a grant of £500. But be quick – the application form closes on 1 November.

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Stop wasting food – it’s out of date

Each year, UK households throw away 4.5 million tonnes of edible food and 70% of all food wasted in the UK is wasted by us in our own homes. Last week, WRAP launched a new campaign aimed at making everyone more aware of how much food we waste and how we can individually make a difference. If we all go one day without wasting food, it will have the same positive environmental impact as planting half a million trees or taking 23,000 cars off the road a year! 

So what you do with your food matters. Remember food should be tasted not wasted! Discover what you can do to waste less food. 

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Save money and help tackle climate change

Essex residents can now apply for up to £5,000 government funding to make their homes low carbon and more energy efficient. Grants are available to make improvements such as installing cavity wall or loft insulation, upgrading windows or replacing old boilers with heat pumps or biomass boilers. A package of measures could save you up to £600 a year on energy bills.

Check if you are eligible to apply for the Green Homes Grant

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Highlights from Love Essex social media

Have you entered our October competition? 

Red Nose Day goes Plastic-Free

Make your own zero-waste body scrub

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Delicious pumpkin recipes

This is the perfect time of year to enjoy squashes and pumpkins. Why not try one of our favourite tasty recipes?

Butternut squash mince bake 

Red lentil and pumpkin lasagne 

Pumpkin seed brownie 

Don’t forget you can always roast the seeds for a healthy snack or make a warming pumpkin soup. 

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7 Essex country parks awarded Green Flag status

Explore Essex is delighted to announce that 7 Essex County Council owned country parks have been recognised for their excellent standards by being awarded Green Flag status.

The Green Flag awards recognise that the parks are well managed, meet the needs of the communities that they serve and maintain the highest possible environmental standards

The awards were given to country parks in Great Notley, Thorndon, Weald, Belhus Woods, Danbury, Cudmore Grove and Hadleigh on 14 October. 

Whether you walk, cycle, play or run, enjoy the beauty that these wonderful parks offer.

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Mythbuster: What can I do with pumpkin waste?

It’s predicted that over 12 million pumpkins will be wasted in the UK during this Halloween period. This is in part because people don’t realise they can eat the flesh. But pumpkin is a great food to roast and bake, not just to carve. 

It’s also important to understand how to treat pumpkins to make the most of them. When whole and uncut, store in a cool, dark place like a cupboard. Once cut, wrap tightly and store in the fridge. If you can’t get through all of it, then you can roast or mash it before freezing it in an airtight container or bag. Anything that can’t be eaten can be recycled in your food caddy at home.  

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