What is a cookie and why are they used?

When you visit a website, a tiny text file is downloaded; this is a cookie. Information such as the site name or a unique ID for the user can be held by it. This means that once the cookie is on your machine, using the information it has gathered based on visits you have made, the website can then use it to tailor your experience.

They are used for a number of different purposes, but the most noticeable benefits are things such as security, storing shopping basket items, target advertising, counting visitors, auto-filling forms, personalising content and authentication.

A vast majority of commercial websites use cookies.

What is a non-essential cookie?

Non-essential cookies are the target of the 'Cookie Law' brought into the EU on May 26th 2012. Websites need to gain consent, either implied or informed, before serving a user these Cookies.

Non-essential cookies are those used for analytic purposes, any cookies used by first or third party advertisers, including affiliates and cookies used to recognise when users return to a website so they receive an optimised landing page or tailored greeting.

What cookies are used on this site?

There are two types of cookies you will encounter on this site, first party and third party.

The first party cookies are our own and are controlled by us. They are used to store information about your visit. No personal information is stored.

Third party cookies are those that enhance the experience using other companies’ tools. For instance; Google Analytics, Twitter and Facebook have their own cookies that are controlled by them.

TruGreen does not use any non-essential first party cookies.