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.