FAQs
Question of the Month
Q. Is it possible to buy compost from the council? I've heard some councils offer the rotted-down produce from their green bins at a reduced rate and I'm keen to buy some for my garden.
A. You can collect soil improver made from residents’ garden and kitchen organics for free. Simply bring some bags and a shovel and help yourself from the piles at the AmeyCespa waste transfer stations at Waterbeach, Alconbury and March. For full information see http://www.ameycespa.com/east/free-compost-collection. You can also buy 40 litre sacks of soil-improving compost made from garden waste at recycling centres for £2.50.
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Rubbish & Recycling Questions
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Questions & Answers
Here are some frequently asked questions that we have answered. If your question is not answered below, simply ask us a question and we will get back to you shortly. Check out the site regularly for new questions and answers.
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Is it possible to buy compost from the council? I've heard some councils offer the rotted-down produce from their green bins at a reduced rate and I'm keen to buy some for my garden.
You can collect soil improver made from residents’ garden and kitchen organics for free. Simply bring some bags and a shovel and help yourself from the piles at the AmeyCespa waste transfer stations at Waterbeach, Alconbury and March. For full information see http://www.ameycespa.com/east/free-compost-collection. You can also buy 40 litre sacks of soil-improving compost made from garden waste at recycling centres for £2.50.
How can I recycle ink cartridges?
Ink cartridges can be recycled at recycling centres. Alternatively they can be sent to Action Aid Recycling (www.actionaidrecycling.org.uk) who seek to reduce waste and poverty by recycling mobile phones and ink cartridges. Green Tech Recycling (www.gtrecycling.com) is a locally-based company who also recycle ink cartridges. If you choose to donate some of the payment for your cartridges to charity they will match your donation.
Where can I recycle carrier bags?
It is so much better to use reusable alternatives to carrier bags, such as rucksacks, cloth bags, or a 'bag for life', which you can pick up from some supermarkets. Some supermakets also provide recycling banks for your carrier bags. Sainsburys, Tesco and Somerfield have this facility at some stores.
Where can I recycle my Christmas tree?
Christmas trees can be recycled through your green or organic kerbside collections or taken to your nearest recycling centre. For your nearest centre see the recycling centre page on the RECAP website (www.recap.co.uk/recycling-at-home/recycling-centres/cambridgeshire)
How can I recycle old electrical goods?
Electrical items can be re-used if they are in good condition, or recycled if they are not. If your item can be re- used you can take it to a local community group (see the environmental groups page of the RECAP website www.recap.co.uk/links/environmental-groups). If it is not suitable for reuse you can take it to your local recycling centre. Note: When you dispose of computers it is your responsibility to destroy or remove the data on the hard drive, which may contain your personal information.
How can I compost my food waste?
If you live in Peterborough City please use a home compost bin. You can compost most food waste except meat, bones and dairy products. Peterborough City Council does not collect food waste in the brown bin scheme, this should be used for garden waste only. If you live elsewhere in Cambridgeshire you can put all food waste into your composting bin or paper sack. Some local authorities provide kitchen caddies to make collection of these materials easy. Just empty the contents into your bin or sack when full.
Can I put aluminium foil in can banks/ where can I recycle foil?
Can recycling banks are only for cans, not foil. Clean foil is collected in kerbside collections in Cambridge City, Fenland, Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire. Foil can be also be placed in the scrap metal skip at recycling centres. Foil can be difficult for councils to collect for recycling as it is made differently from cans and therefore needs to be separated to be recycled.
Why does my council only collect plastic bottles?
Other containers such as margarine tubs, plastic trays and yoghurt pots are made from a different type of plastic than bottles. Most councils do not collect these as their contractors do not accept them at present Local councils have to consider both environmental and financial factors when collecting materials and can only collect materials for which there are markets.
What types of plastic can I recycle?
Local councils only collect plastic bottles. These cover a wide range of products from milk, squash, shampoo and detergent bottles. Please remove the lids and squash them to save space. Lids cannot be recycled. Please see the following page on the RECAP website (www.recap.co.uk/recycling-at-home/materials/plastics) for more information about plastic.
Why should I cut down on plastic carrier bags?
It is estimated that around 17.5 billion plastic bags are used in the UK every year - that’s about 290 plastic bags per person! Research also shows that plastic carrier bags are used on average for 20 minutes before being put in the bin. All this plastic ends up in landfill- what a waste! Even though more bags are being made to rot away, air and sunlight is needed for this. Landfills have no air or light so bags that have only been used once for 20 minutes will sit there for decades if not hundreds of years! Reusing plastic bags from the supermarket, buying bags for life or using stronger material bags will cut down on how many bags we use and send to landfill.
Can you put nappies in the kerbside composting collection?
Sorry the answer is no. It is not possible to compost nappies (even eco biodegradable ones) through kerbside collection schemes as it can be dangerous to health. They should not be put into home compost bins either.
Can you put raw meat, cooked meat and bones in the organic composting collections?
Yes, if you are a Cambridgeshire resident you can put these items into your kerbside composting collection (green or brown bin or brown sack). It is perfectly okay to wrap it in newspaper too, if you wish, to keep your bin cleaner. Please note meat, dairy and cooked food should not be home composted. If you live in Peterborough no food waste can be put in with your garden waste.
How do I get a recycling box/ bin or sack?
If you have just moved to a new house and do not have a recycling container or a recycling / refuse collection calendar then please contact your local recycling officer. The contact numbers can be found on our links page (www.recap.co.uk/links).
Alternatvely we can pass on your details to the relevant officer.
Can you put envelopes with windows in your recycling bin?
Yes, envelopes with windows can be put in your recycling collection.
Can you put rabbit/guinea pig/hamster sawdust, bedding and waste into the green waste and organic collections?
If you are a Peterborough resident then the best thing to do is to home compost it as it is not collected in the kerbside scheme. When adding it to your compost bin or heap ensure you mix it in well. If you live in Cambridgeshire you can either home compost it or include it in your organic waste collection. Please do not include waste from cat and dog litter trays in home compost bins or kerbside composting collections.
Where can I recycle batteries?
Both domestic and car batteries can be recycled at local recycling centres and at some recycling banks. Please see the recycling centres page of the RECAP website (www.recap.co.uk/recycling-at-home/recycling-centres/cambridgeshire) to see which is nearest to you.
How can I recycle CD's?
CDs and DVDs can be taken to all recycling centres, except Dogsthorpe. The following website www.reuze.co.uk contains some information about other possible outlets. Click on recycle and then CDs.
Where can I buy a can crusher?
Search for crushers in the shopping section on www.recyclenow.com
Where is my nearest recycling bank?
You can find a list of banks in your area and what they accept on this website at http://www.recap.co.uk/recycling-at-home/recycling-sites/, or via a map on the Recycle-More website at http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/banklocator/banklocator.aspx.
Where can I get a home compost bin?
Any Cambridgeshire and Peterborough resident can purchase a subsidised home compost bin though our home composting special offer see the following website for details www.ccc.getcomposting.com
