Recycling
Currently just under half of the district’s waste is recycled whilst the rest is incinerated. The council’s ‘raise the rate’ campaign aims to promote recycling by focussing on different materials. Last year’s campaign on food waste saw a 15% increase on the year before. The focus in the coming months will be on paper and card. F&HDC provides extensive public information, an A-Z recycling guide, and supports household and community recycling initiatives to meet and exceed national targets.
As examples of local community action, Go Folkestone and Hythe environmental group are collecting electronic waste and the council is enthusiastic to continue to support these initiatives.
Recycling is a topic which is covered in the school curriculum and many young people have a keen interest in the environment. A recent poster competition on the Great British Spring Clean attracted entries from children of all ages. The winning design is now displayed on two refuse collection vehicles.
Circular economy
The council places the circular economy at the core of its climate and sustainability strategy, focusing on reducing waste and enhancing resource efficiency through local partnerships, business support, and active community engagement. Our latest Corporate Plan (2025–2030) and accompanying initiatives support repair and reuse projects and promoting sustainable practices in areas from energy generation to food production, with the goal of embedding circular economy principles across the district.