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Health & Environmental Services

Tel: 03450 450 063

Fax: 01954 713149
Email to contact:
Health & Environmental services (This link will open in a new window)
Refuse service (This link will open in a new window)

Environmental FAQs

• How do I report an abandoned vehicle?
• What should I do if I find a stray dog?
• How do I find out about private land ownership?
• How do I complain about a nuisance?

• More environmental FAQs

A new blue wheeled bin

South Cambridgeshire District Council has changed the way it collects your recyclable waste by replacing the green box scheme with a blue wheeled bin, which comes with a specially designed inner caddy to keep paper separate from everything else.

What can I recycle in the new blue bin and inner caddy?

Same as the green box, but with additional materials:

• New - Mixed plastic (pots, tub and, trays)
• New - Plastic film (clean food wrapping)
• New - Cartons (tetra packs)
• Cans (steel and aluminium)
• Paper - placed in the inner caddy
• Cardboard (changed from the green bin)
• Glass
• Plastic bottles
• Aluminium foil

Download our handy leaflet which explains in detail what you should put into your blue, green and black bins.

Why does paper need to be kept in a separate caddy?

Paper is very valuable. If we can keep it separate from all the other recycling it's worth a lot more money. This helps reduce the cost of the new scheme.

Why do you now want cardboard in the blue bin instead of the green bin?

All cardboard in the green bin is composted. If we can collect it all in the blue bin instead it can be recycled and is worth more money, again helping to reduce the cost of the new scheme.

Why have we changed to a blue bin and paper inner caddy?

From October residents can recycle a wide range of everyday plastic packaging items such as plastic food trays, yoghurt pots and margarine tubs. Cardboard has also changed from the green bin to the blue bin. Whilst these things are not heavy, they take up lots of space and simply wouldn't fit in the boxes.

The blue bin will also:

• Maximise recycling - allowing residents to potentially recycle 90% of their households waste.
• Save money - the new blue bin scheme will use four less vehicles then the green box scheme and maximise the value of items collected. Compared with the green box scheme the blue bin scheme is expected to save the council £100K in its first year, rising to over £400K in 2013/14.
• Make it easier for residents to recycle more materials and removes any confusion over plastic recycling - simply any everyday plastic packaging will be collected.
• Mean no more lifting of heavy boxes by residents or collection crews
• Reduce littering - items such as plastic bottles are easily blown about and can cause littering. Placing items in a closed bin will prevent littering.

Are all households in South Cambridgeshire going to get a blue bin?

Yes, if you now have black and green bins you will receive a blue bin to replace your green box(es). If you physically don't have any room to store a blue bin please contact us so that we can agree what alternative arrangement is best for you.

Are you stopping the Green Box Scheme?

Yes, the new blue bin has replaced the green box scheme.

When will I receive my new blue bin and paper inner caddy?

All residents should have received a blue bin and inner caddy. If you have not received a blue bin please contact 03450 450 063.

Will I have to pay for the blue bin?

There will be no charge for the blue bins delivered at the start of the scheme in October. After the start of the scheme, normal charges will apply.

I currently have my bins and green box collected on an assisted collection, will this continue?

Yes.

Will green bin collections change?

Green bin collections will continue. The only change will see us collecting cardboard via the blue bin.

What happens if the blue bin or inner caddy gets full?

We want to help you recycle as much as possible. If your blue bin is full, please put excess recycling such as plastics, cartons, card, cans and glass alongside the blue bin in a suitable container. This will be emptied at the same time as your blue bin and returned.

Similarly, if the inner caddy is full, excess paper should be placed alongside the blue bin in a suitable container, which will be emptied and returned.

What will happen to the recycling after collection?

Apart from paper all materials are sent to a recycling facility in North London. There are plans to bring the sorting process closer to home when a new materials recycling facility is built at Donarbon in Waterbeach.

Once delivered to the recycling facility the materials are manually sorted to remove large unwanted items and visible contaminants before entering the processing plant In the processing plant fast-moving conveyors, shakers, magnets, air currents and optical sensors are all used to identify the materials and guide them to their dedicated sections within the plant.

Glass is then sold and re-melted for the manufacture of new materials, aluminium and steel are sold to foundries for new products, card is sold to board mills for boxes and packaging, the plastic used to make milk bottles is recycled into more milk bottles, and other plastic and film is sold and recycled into a variety of products.

What happens if glass gets broken in the bin?

In most cases glass bottles and jars will not break because the blue bin will contain items such as plastic and cartons which will cushion glass containers. Once placed in the bin, if glass does break it can still be safely collected as residents or collection crews will no longer have to handle it.

Machines at the MRF will safely and effectively sort broken glass.

What if I do not have enough space to store a blue bin?

The blue bin takes up less ground space than the two boxes it will replace.

If you feel that your property has no room to store the blue bin, we will come and speak to you about the best way to deliver the new service to you. Please call 03450 450 063 to arrange an assessment.

What will happen to the green boxes?

You can either keep your green boxes or take them to the recycling area at Morrisons in Cambourne, or Tesco at Bar Hill, Fulbourn and Milton. From here they will be picked up and sent for recycling.

Do any other councils in Cambridgeshire have three bins?

Yes, residents living in Fenland, Huntingdonshire and Peterborough have been using three bins for a number of years. A third bin for recycling was introduced in Cambridge City last year. South Cambridgeshire District Council is one of the last councils in Cambridgeshire to introduce a third bin.

More information

This page will be updated when relevant policies have been agreed and more information is available. Please contact the Refuse & recycling service (This link will open in a new window) if you need more information.