Last year Cambridgeshire and Peterborough recycled 117 tonnes of books through banks provided by Oxfam.

What happens to them?

Once the banks are emptied the books are sorted according to quality. The majority of books are in reasonable condition and sent for sale in the hundreds of Oxfam stores nation-wide. Books not in good condition are separated out. These will be recycled in a similar way to paper or turned into new products such as animal bedding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q) Isn't driving to the recycling banks un-environmentally friendly?

A) It can be. To reduce travel and pollution, you should combine your trip with another errand such as shopping, rather than making a special journey.

Q) My books are old and out of date, can they be recycled?

A) Yes. If they cannot be sold and re-used they will go for recycling.