Recycling your plastics - Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Council going to start collecting plastic bottles from the kerbside?

From October 2008 plastic bottles of all shapes and sizes will be collected as part of the existing green box recycling scheme along with paper, cans, glass bottles and jars. Please refer to the calendar in the South Cambs magazine for information on your first plastic bottle collection.

Why is the council adding plastic bottles to the green box scheme?

The main reason is that residents have told us that that is what they want. The current plastic bottle recycling bank scheme, introduced in 2004, has been an overwhelming success. However, even though attempts have been made to increase capacity and emptying frequencies at certain sites, demand consistently outstrips supply, resulting in overflowing banks and untidy sites becoming an eyesore and giving rise to frequent complaints. There are simply not enough new sites available throughout the district to meet demand.

How will the new service work?

During September every household will be given an additional green box to put their squashed plastic bottles in before the new service starts in October 2008 along with an information leaflet. This box should be put out for collection by 7:00am on your normal collection day alongside your existing green box containing cans, paper, glass bottles and jars. Please remember to make sure the tops and triggers are off and the bottles rinsed and squashed.

What type of plastic bottles will be collected?

Any 'bottle' shaped plastic container such as milk, shampoo, fizzy drinks, bleach bottles etc. will be collected.

What should I do if I don't have an additional box by the time my first collection is due?

Additional boxes are being delivered throughout September. If you have not received an additional box by Monday 29th September please contact us on 08450 450 063.

Do I need to be at home when the box is delivered?

No, the box will be left at your property. Look out for more information in the autumn issue of South Cambridgeshire Magazine.

What if I do not want an additional box?

In order for our green box scheme to continue to be successful we want everyone to recycle their plastic bottles. We are delivering over 60,000 additional boxes and unfortunately it is just not possible to miss out individual houses. If there are particular reasons why you do not want an additional box please contact us and we will arrange for a support officer to contact you with advice and assistance.

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

Yes, if you currently qualify for an assisted collection from us this will continue.

Can I stack my green boxes on top of each other?

Yes, boxes will stack when the top box is placed at a 90° angle to the bottom box.

What should I do with the tops?

Please take all tops and triggers off the bottles. These cannot be recycled and should continue to be put in your black bin.

Do I need to remove labels?

No, labels do not need to be removed. Labels will be removed during the recycling process.

Is there an additional charge for either the additional green box or the collection?

No

What should I do if my additional green box overflows with bottles?

Make sure the tops are off and the bottles rinsed and squashed. Additional plastic bottles can be placed in your existing green box alongside your cans, paper, glass bottles and jars.

Can I place plastic bottles in my existing green box?

Yes. The scheme has been designed to provide flexibility. If your additional green box overflows with plastic bottles, additional plastic bottles can be placed in your existing green box. Please remember to try and separate materials within the boxes as this makes collections easier and quicker.

Why have we had to wait until October 2008?

The existing green box scheme for cans, paper, glass bottles and jars is very near its maximum capacity. This is because of the fantastic support of all our residents. New hand built specialist vehicles, providing additional capacity, have been ordered and will be delivered in October 2008. Although plastic bottles are very light they take up a huge amount of space even when squashed so it makes sense to start the service when we have the additional capacity to cope.

Will the day or time of collection change?

Your green bin and green boxes will be collected on the same day. Please put them out by 7:00am on your collection day, as the time of collection is likely to change.

Why aren't other plastics like yoghurt pots and food trays being collected?

Unfortunately there are no cost effective recycling facilities available locally at this time for mixed plastics such as yoghurt pots, food trays and plastic film. Mixed plastics tend to be made from different types of plastic to the majority of plastic bottles. They often have different properties and can be incompatible with one another when mixed, meaning they can't be made into new products. Mixed plastics also have a lower market value. They therefore need to be separated out and the different types of equipment necessary to do this, besides being expensive to install and operate, are simply not locally accessible at this time.

What should I do with other plastics like yoghurt pots, food trays and plastic film?

Please continue, as now, to put them in your black bin.

What will happen to the other plastics like yoghurt pots, food trays and plastic film?

Cambridgeshire County Council has signed a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract Donarbon Waste Management that will deliver by 2010 a mechanical biological treatment (MBT) facility capable of recovering these other plastics that are currently sent to landfill tips.

Does any other Council in Cambridgeshire collect mixed plastics i.e. bottles, pots, food trays and plastic film?

No. This is due to the lack of cost effective recycling facilities available locally at this time and because of the low market value for mixed plastics.

What should I do with plastic bottles containing pesticides or oil?

Please take them to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre at either Butt Lane Milton (01223) 860674 or Gravel Pit Hill, Thriplow (01223) 839001 where they can be left free of charge.

Will you empty green boxes if lots of other types of plastic are mixed in with the plastic bottles?

No. Unfortunately, with over 60,000 properties to collect from our collection crews are simply unable to sort out other types of plastics from plastic bottles. We will leave the box and a card explaining the reasons why. If your box has been left, please remove any other types of plastic and represent your box on your next green box collection day.

Will I still be able to take plastic bottles to a plastic bottle recycling bank?

No. Adding plastic bottles to the green box recycling scheme will mean that the existing plastic bottle banks will be withdrawn during November and the money saved used to fund more recycling.

What will happen to the plastic bottles once collected?

They will be taken to Donarbon Waste Management in Waterbeach, baled and then taken to a local sorting and recycling facility where they will be separated into their different types, flaked and turned into pellets for sale to manufacturers to make new products including compost bins, water butts, fleece jackets and even parts of bridges!