One week until simpler recycling kicks-in

South Cambridgeshire residents are being reminded that from next Monday (11 December) there will be no need for them to use paper caddies to recycle paper.

From that date, all waste paper, including newspaper, junk mail, envelopes, magazines and telephone directories, should be placed directly into the blue wheelie bin.

The move to simplify the recycling process was approved by Councillors in September. Computer modelling carried out by the Council’s shared waste team suggests current recycling rates, that see more than half of South Cambridgeshire’s waste recycled, will be at least maintained, if not improved, following the change on 11 December.

A video outlining the reasons for the change, as well as detailing the recycling process for paper, has been released on the Council’s social media channels as a further way of keeping residents informed.

Ending the collection from caddies means fewer waste collection vehicles will be needed, which will help save taxpayers around £670,000 during the next seven years compared to the existing system.

Fewer trucks are needed because vehicles which can collect recycling mixed together, without paper needing to be kept separate, needn’t have two sections and so can carry more waste.

This in turn means collection rounds will be completed without refuse trucks having to return to base to be emptied as often. As a result, the Council’s recycling vehicles will cover around 26,000 fewer miles on South Cambridgeshire’s roads every year.

This change to vehicle operations will also be good for the environment, as it will lead to lower fuel costs and reduced CO2 emissions.

Meanwhile, Council waste bosses are encouraging residents to keep hold of their caddies and give them another life, by running a competition that gives them the chance to win a Joseph Joseph ‘Stack’ recycling bin worth £100. All residents should do is share a picture via the Council’s social media channels (@SouthCambs on Twitter or search for ‘South Cambridgeshire’ on Facebook) of their caddy being re-used for another purpose. This competition runs until 9am on Tuesday 2 January 2018.

Cllr Mark Howell, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “We’re gearing up for Christmas and approaching a really hectic time of year, so for a start I’m all for anything that’s going to make it easier for us all to recycle during the festive season.

“In the longer term, the change is a win-win because it’ll save money for residents, and make recycling simpler for them. I’m very keen that we maintain South Cambridgeshire’s excellent recycling record, and I’m pleased the modelling we’ve done suggests we’ll do at least that, if not improve it.

“Earlier this year I pledged live on the radio that we’d run a competition to try and uncover the most imaginative use of a caddy, and that’s just what we’re doing. Suggestions we’ve already had include using it as a planter for carrots, as a toybox or as a garden-tidy. It’s brilliant to have these ideas, but I want to see more, so send us your caddy up-cycle images on social media to be in with a chance of winning a great prize.”