en-form The Colchester Environment Centre

17/08/2026

The Aqua Optima® Water Filter Free Recycling Programme is closing and our last day for collecting water filters will be Friday 4th September 2026.
If you have any old Aqua Optima water filters that need to be recycled please get them to us by 4th September.
Please note these are for the Aqua Optima brand only:

Aqua Optima Universal Water Filters
Aqua Optima Evolve 30 and 60 Day Water Filters
Aqua Optima Original 30 and 60 Day Water Filters

(please note Brita water filters can still be recycled in many shops)

06/08/2026

Last call for Bread Bags.
Bread and Bakery Plastic Bag Recycling Scheme is Closing.
Our last date for collecting them will be MONDAY 10th August at our office at 15 Church Walk, Colchester CO1 1NS.
Unfortunately, we are quite a bit short of our minimum target weight so would be grateful if you could hunt out and let us have any bread bags you may have this weekend.
We can accept the following packaging under this scheme:
🍞 Any brand of bread loaf bag
🥖Baguette packaging
🍞Bread roll packaging
🥨Bagel, pretzel and crumpet packaging
🍞Wraps, pitta breads, naans and garlic bread packaging
🥐Croissants, brioche and pastry packaging
🍞Teacakes, fruit loaves and scones packaging
🥯 Doughnuts, cookies and muffin packaging
🍞Cake, cake bars and slices packaging
🧇Pancake and waffle packaging
After this date bread bags and other soft plastic packaging can be recycled with your kerbside plastic recycling in Colchester or at large supermarkets.

25/07/2026

Bread and Bakery Plastic Bag Recycling Scheme is Closing.

Our last date for collecting them will be 5th August at our office at 15 Church Walk, Colchester CO1 1NS.

Unfortunately, we are quite a bit short of our minimum target weight so would be grateful if you could hunt out and let us have any bread bags you may have.

We can accept the following packaging under this scheme:
🍞 Any brand of bread loaf bag
🥖Baguette packaging
🍞Bread roll packaging
🥨Bagel, pretzel and crumpet packaging
🍞Wraps, pitta breads, naans and garlic bread packaging
🥐Croissants, brioche and pastry packaging
🍞Teacakes, fruit loaves and scones packaging
🥯 Doughnuts, cookies and muffin packaging
🍞Cake, cake bars and slices packaging
🧇Pancake and waffle packaging

After this date bread bags and other soft plastic packaging can be recycled with your kerbside plastic recycling in Colchester or at large supermarkets.

14/07/2026

The UK is currently producing 57.7% of its electricity from renewables:
Solar 33.7%
Wind 22.7%
Hydroelectric 1.1%

Fossil fuel Gas 5.6%

We are also receiving 22.7% from 6 other countries through inter connectors. Whilst this is not necessarily from renewables 4.1% is from Norway which tends to be and 10.9% is from France which is primarily nuclear.

Shows the live status of Great Britain’s electric power transmission network

10/07/2026

Now well into our third heatwave of the year, we are currently generating 37% of our electricity from solar panels.
Gas is currently generating 25.9%.

Shows the live status of Great Britain’s electric power transmission network

10/07/2026

Anglian Water - Love Every Drop has today issued a hosepipe ban which comes into force at 1.01am on Saturday 11th July.
The restrictions apply to hosepipes, sprinklers, pressure washers, dripper hoses and automatic irrigation systems connected to the mains water supply.

❌Watering your garden
❌Watering plants
❌Washing your car
❌Cleaning your patio and driveways
❌Cleaning walls and windows
❌ Filling paddling pools, swimming pools or hot tubs
❌Filling ponds and ornamental fountains
❌Cleaning private leisure boats

You can continue to water gardens and grow fruit and vegetables using a watering can, bucket or water from a water butt.



https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/help-and-advice/save-water/hosepipe-restrictions?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Anglian%20Water&utm_content=3&utm_campaign=2127643_TUBs_Main_20260710&dm_i=5ESY,19LP7,2VKY88,5769J,1,0,0,0

18/06/2026

Last call for old style metal based PRINGLE tubes.
The TerraCycle UK Pringle tube recycling scheme is closing. Our last date for collecting them will be 1st July 2026 at our office at 15 Church Walk, Colchester CO1 1NS.
Please note we can only collect and recycle the old type metal based Pringle tubes. Newer, all cardboard tubes should be recycled with your paper and card recycling.
Unfortunately, we are quite a bit short of our minimum target weight so would be grateful if you could hunt out and let us have any of your old tubes.