Winter ready

Winter always brings the potential for severe weather, which can leave public services stretched. You can make sure you’re more prepared to manage whatever the winter brings by thinking ahead and making some basic preparations. If you’re celebrating the festive season, being prepared could also save you money and help our environment. 

Prepare for severe weather 

Severe weather can make life difficult for everyone. It’s worth taking some simple steps at the start of winter to make sure you’re prepared. Consider visiting a DIY store to stock up on salt/grit for the paths around your home, and make sure you’ve got a snow shovel, torch, batteries and a first aid kit handy. Find more hints and tips about being prepared for winter. 

Stay safe on the roads 

When a freeze is forecast our highways team grits all the main routes. But winter weather can still any make road treacherous and there is no guarantee that they will always be completely free of ice and snow.  

Even during the daytime, it can be very gloomy at this time of year. If someone you know has a new bike on their Christmas list, check that they’ve also got lights and hi-vis gear. Remember – be safe, be seen! 

The key to safer driving this winter is to make sure you’re fully prepared and always travel with due care for the weather and condition of the roads. Find out more about travelling safely this winter. 

Visit our Reuse shops to pick up a stocking filler  

Our Reuse360 shops in Preston, Garstang and Burnley offer a delightful array of good-quality pre-loved items at great prices – perfect for finding an affordable gift or just having a good browse. Reusing items is even better than recycling and helps to reduce our impact on the planet. Visit one of our Reuse shops and discover some hidden gems.  

They are open between 9am and 5pm at these recycling centres: 

Preston - open 7 days a week  

Garstang - open from Thursday to Monday 

Burnley - open 7 days a week  

Having a clear out? Remember to reuse and recycle 

The festive season can be a fun time, but it can also generate a lot of waste. If you’re having a clear-out to get ready for Christmas, or go fresh into the New Year, please recycle everything you can and take any good quality items to a charity shop or your local recycling centre.   

Good quality items brought to our recycling centres and reuse shops are also used to support local communities, social care services, and charities. 

Keep these recycling tips in mind to help reduce your environmental footprint: 

• Rinse and recycle: Ensure empty food and drink containers are rinsed out before recycling. 

• Squash and flatten: Squash plastic bottles and flatten cardboard boxes to save space in your recycling bin. 

• Beyond newspapers: Don’t forget to recycle wrapping paper (without glitter or foil), envelopes, toilet roll tubes and toothpaste boxes. 

• E-waste: Old gadgets and electronics can be recycled at designated e-waste centres including all county council recycling sites. 

Find out more about recycling at home 

Recycle used batteries 

Batteries are everywhere in our homes, and we buy more of them around Christmas than any other time of the year. 

Items such as toys, Christmas lights, toothbrushes, remote controls, mobile phones, e-cigarettes, vapes and doorbells often contain batteries that can cause fires if not recycled correctly - they also contain chemicals that are hazardous to the environment. 

There are battery recycling collection points at most shops that sell batteries, or you can take them to your local recycling centre. 

Find out more about proper battery disposal 

Find a reputable tradesperson 

Our Trading Standards team often get complaints following winter storms when people have agreed to have repairs carried out by a cold caller, and the work turns out to be poor quality. 

Whether you’re making some home improvements or need repairs to your property you can find reputable tradespeople with our Safe Trader scheme. You can also use the directory to find companies for gardening services, mobility aids and other services around the home. 

Businesses registered with the scheme have all demonstrated their commitment to fair and honest trading practices and delivering good customer service.