RECAP News

01/09/2006 - CAMBRIDGESHIRE HALVES WASTE MOUNTAIN

For the first time in recorded history Cambridgeshire residents are recycling more of its rubbish than they are landfilling.

Waste chiefs are thanking residents for their efforts as Cambridgeshire reaches recycling records of 51%.

From April to June 2006, the enthusiasm of residents using the high quality recycling facilities provided by Cambridgeshire County, District and City Council has resulted for the first time in more waste being recycled than landfilled.

Cambridgeshire has seen recycling figures climb up year on year, 31% in 2003, 37.8% in 2004 and 43.5%in 2005 – the average in England is 23%.

Redirecting rubbish away from landfill is important to protect the environment and avoid fines imposed by Government.

Cambridgeshire councils, which earlier this year were awarded Beacon council status for their excellence in waste management, are proving once again that partnership working, together with public engagement is the way to beat the waste mountain.

Cambridgeshire County Council has been working closely with the District and City Councils in bringing innovative kerbside recycling facilities. Some Household Waste Recycling Centres across Cambridgeshire have also brought in new facilities such as recycling plastic bottles and plasterboard. 

Recycling has really got to the hearts and minds of people in some parts of the county, such as Huntingdonshire, where recycling rates have soared as high 55%.

108,477 tonnes of waste has been produced in Cambridgeshire from April to June and 55,258 tonnes of that have been recycled.

Recycling is also taken seriously by Cambridgeshire County Council’s own services such as the use of old tyres to make paths and recycled glass and re-used highway chipping in the creation of roads. Recycled paper is used as standard in all council offices and envelopes are reused for internal mail to help cut down on waste.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Services for Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “We’d like to thank Cambridgeshire residents for their great efforts to keep waste out of the ground. It is clear that we are keen recyclers and it is for this reason that we are leading the way in the UK. We and our partners are continually looking for innovative ways to improve recycling and we share the Government’s concerns that more needs to be done nationally to reduce the amount of waste being needlessly dumped in landfill.

“The costs of landfilling waste are rising every year, with the landfill tax increasing by £3 per tonne per year. Last year the County Council had to spend over £7.3 million dumping waste in landfills, which is why recycling is so important”.

Central government initiatives are in place to ensure that EU targets and national legislation are fully met. These have set limits to the amount of rubbish that can be landfilled by local authorities and those councils failing to comply will face fines of £150 per exceeding tonne.

Supplied by Cambridgeshire County Council

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