Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Why are we sending recycling from Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire 400 miles away to Northern Ireland?




Recycling collected across Cambridgeshire is currently taken to Thalia’s site in Waterbeach for sorting and processing - but that will soon change.

With the contract ending, and Thalia’s site in need of an upgrade to meet new government specifications for materials capture, a procurement process was carried out on behalf of all the councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

A waste sorting plant. Picture: iStock
A waste sorting plant. Picture: iStock

And it was announced last year that dry mixed recyclables contracts were due to be awarded to Re-Gen and Biffa.

For those with Re-Gen contracts, which include Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, it means that from March waste will be bulked locally then transported more than 400 miles away to a materials recycling facility in Newry, Northern Ireland.

That has prompted questions from the Liberal Democrat opposition on Cambridge City Council.

“Cambridge is fortunate to have a recycling facility right on its doorstep in Waterbeach,” said city councillor Olaf Hauk, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for climate action. “While there might be valid reasons for choosing a facility further afield, it’s astounding that the environmental impact of transporting waste such a long distance wasn’t even factored into the decision-making process.

“We’ve been told that data on the carbon footprint won’t be available before March, when the new operator begins operations – this is obviously too late, because the commitment to the arrangement will then have been made.

“In an era where addressing climate change is critical, this oversight is deeply concerning. The new operator claims higher recycling efficiency – 99 per cent compared to 80 per cent previously – but does that truly justify the emissions from hundreds, if not thousands, of 400-mile lorry journeys?”

Cllr Hauk (Lib Dem, Trumpington) also questioned the public perception of the decision.

“How can we reassure residents that their efforts to separate their waste are used to maximum effect, if these questions weren't asked before awarding a new contract?” he asked.

“Scrutiny of the environmental impacts of such decisions is essential to ensure that Cambridge remains a leader in sustainable waste management.”

But the Liberal Democrats’ call to defer the contract until “critical data” on the environmental impact of the move was known failed to get enough support at the Labour-run council’s environment and community scrutiny committee last Thursday (16 January).

A spokesperson for Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service said: “Part of the decision to award the contract was based on Re-Gen’s very high environmental standards and carbon reduction strategy.

Cllr Olaf Hauk
Cllr Olaf Hauk

“As well as their sorting facility running on 100 per cent renewable energy, this includes their commitment to switching to more sustainable fuel sources such as biodiesel, HVO and hydrogen. Re-Gen’s current operations involve transporting sorted materials to re-processors around the UK, so wherever possible they will be picking up our materials using vehicles that would otherwise be returning to Northern Ireland empty.”

It is understood that Re-Gen plans to commission a MRF in the Midlands, which could become operational during the contract period.

The spokesperson said seven bids were carefully considered under the competitive tender process.

“The councils are happy that the new agreement represents the best option for our residents. This factors in available processing capacity, costs, the quality of processing and the ability to accept all of the materials we currently collect, with no changes to the service we provide to residents,” he said.

The current recycling contract with Thalia has already been extended. From March, the waste service is exploring using its site in Waterbeach as a bulking and waste transfer station only – but says the company will need to spend about £1million on remedial works so that it can operate safely, including measures to suppress fires.

The Thalia waste site on the A10 at Waterbeach. Picture: Keith Heppell
The Thalia waste site on the A10 at Waterbeach. Picture: Keith Heppell

More than 15 sites were explored over the last nine months, with the only other suitable alternative found to be in Haverhill. However, the additional travelling distance would mean reconfiguring collection rounds, buying about eight new vehicles and spending more on travelling to the site. The cost of this would be about £2m per year.

The waste service has also considered building its own transfer station, including in the vicinity of the Waterbeach depot, but this would require a capital investment of £3m-£5m, with additional operational costs, and there is not time to get in place by March.

But resident Susie Williams called the situation “insane”.

She wrote to council leaders to tell them: “Of the 31 English councils none sends the waste to an MRF out of country, let alone overseas.

“The trip from Cambridge city to Newry is at least 399 miles. You will be deliberately polluting the air with tons and tons of CO2 and particulates, unnecessarily. The fact that you would choose to do this as a group of councillors supposedly interested in protecting the environment just doesn’t compute.

Blue bin waste from Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire will soon be bulked locally then shipped to Northern Ireland for processing.
Blue bin waste from Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire will soon be bulked locally then shipped to Northern Ireland for processing.

“I am ashamed to live in a council area that has chosen such a ridiculous ‘solution’.”

She demanded figures on the environmental impact of the move and added: “If this contract goes ahead, you will be getting most of my recycling mixed into my black bin, to go into landfill in Milton. That is the sensible thing to do, for the planet. If many people did this, I believe the council would be fined, which would only serve you right.”

Cllr Rosy Moore (Lab, Coleridge), executive councillor for climate action and environment, said a lot of work had gone into the contract and said it was the “best option in these circumstances”.

She stressed we would not know the full picture on the carbon footprint of the change until the recycled material was sold on, but that she would be happy to report back when we did.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More