From our District Councillor
I am frequently asked about recycling, so I am devoting this months newsletter
to the subject
Recycling rates in East Cambs are now 33% and risingdouble the national average. The council has been awarded "Beacon Status" for its success working with the County Council and other districts in Cambridgeshire.
A trial in Witchford to collect the recyclables (including kitchen waste) one week and the black bag the next has proved a success, more than 50% was recycled. We have increased the number of plastic bottle banks in the district during the past year. The recycling scheme has been further extended so that it now covers most of the district.
The government has set a target for 2021 of 25% land fill, 25% incineration, and 50% recycled. So we still have a long way to go. But it is just part of an environmental issue that will be if greater importance in the years ahead.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WASTE DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND PETERBOROUGH
1. What happens to my paper waste when collected by my district council?
The old magazines, newspapers and junk mail we collect from you are sent to UK re-processing facilities and are made into more paper for newsprint primarily, but also into other products such as manila envelopes and cardboard.
2. What happens to my cans when collected by my district council?
They are separated into aluminium and steel at licensed premises in the UK. Then they are smelted to be used in a whole range of items, from more cans and washing machines to cars and even planes and ships!
3. What happens to glass bottles and jars when collected by my district council?
They are sent for re-processing to produce new glass containers: so by recycling your marmite jar, you give it the chance to maybe be part of a champagne bottle!
4. What happens to my plastic bottles when collected by my district council?
Plastic bottles are sent for re-processing. A proportion of them are transformed in the UK where markets are available. The rest is sent abroad for recycling. It is important to highlight that there are bigger markets for the re-processing of plastics abroad than in the UK, therefore by exporting these recyclable materials, we satisfy a demand of materials. The plastics are made into a range of items, from clothing, such as fleece jackets, and filling for duvets to drain pipes and wheeled bins.
5. Why can only certain types of plastic be recycled?
Plastic are as diverse as their use. Different types of plastic require different type of treatment in order to be recycled. Currently, the re-processors we use do not have the facilities to recycle all kinds of plastics. However, we accept plastic bottles made from (1) PET, (2) HDPE and (3) PVC, which include all soft drinks bottles, bleach, shower gels, shampoos and conditioners.
6. What happens to garden and kitchen waste collected by my district council?
All the garden and kitchen waste produced by householders in Cambridgeshire is sent to two local contractors. One of them is based in Waterbeach and the other in Ellington. They have approved licenses to process even meat, bones and dairy products. All the contents from your garden and kitchen bin or paper sack are transformed into soil conditioner, which is used by local farmers and is also sold to residents to enrich gardens and allotments.
The garden waste you take to any of our Household Recycling Centre is also sent to our contractors in Waterbeach, Ellington and March.
7. What happens to the recyclable materials collected at the Household Recycling Centres?
All of the recyclable materials are sent to re-processors to be recycled and transformed into something useful.
8. What happens to the waste that cannot be recycled?
All the waste that is not suitable for recycling is sent to landfill. Cambridgeshire has a few designated and approved landfill sites that deal with our waste. The availability of landfill space is limited and is running out; therefore it is important to recycle and compost as much as possible.
9. How does my council ensure that my recyclables are actually recycled?
Comprehensive data is collected, audited and verified at different stages, to make sure that good-practice is observed by all of our contractors and that residents' recycling efforts are worthwhile. In the case of a suspicion of failure to comply with contract, a full investigation would be carried out.
10. What process is followed by my council when choosing a contractor to collect, recycle or dispose of my waste?
All of the Councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have well-defined contract regulations in line with European and UK Legislation. When awarding contracts, a comprehensive tendering process is undertaken to ensure that not only we obtain the best value for taxpayers' contributions but also that good environmental, ethical and health and safety practices are in place. All of our contractors are licenced waste carriers and we obtain evidence when we let the recycling contracts that the companies have market outlets for the material the councils collect.
11. Does my waste get exported to third-world countries for disposal?
No. All the waste produced by Cambridgeshire residents that is not suitable for recycling is landfilled at authorised sites in Cambridgeshire. Cambridgeshire County Council fully complies with national and international legislation in the transport and disposal of waste.