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The wheeled bin recycling service in East Cambridgeshire is making a big difference to recycling levels in the district as the service nears its one year anniversary.
In 2012/13, recycling in the district stood at 34 per cent, this provisionally increased to 46 per cent in 2013/14 but current recycling rates for 2014/15 predict a recycling rate of 54 per cent.
A rate of 54 per cent would take the authority from the bottom quarter to the top quarter of English councils for recycling performance within two years based on most recently available statistics (2012/13).
Looking back at 2013/14 figures, residents recycled an additional 2147 tonnes of recyclables and 1475 tonnes of food & garden waste compared to 2012/13. This would be enough to fill 268 refuse collection vehicles.
Cllr Anna Bailey, Chair of Regulatory and Support Services Committee at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: "The increase in the recycling levels across East Cambridgeshire over the last year has been nothing short of outstanding. Across the district, we have seen how residents have embraced the new wheeled bin service and have drastically reduced the amount of waste which is ending up in landfill. We should all be very proud of such an achievement and for making such rapid progress in such a short period of time."
Over the coming weeks households across the district will receive 52 refuse sacks (two rolls of 26), which are intended to last until the next distribution in a year's time. No further sacks will be issued until then, but additional refuse will be collected if presented for collection in suitable black refuse sacks provided by householders.
The sack distribution dates are shown below:
| Date | Area |
| w/c 25 August | Ely |
| w/c 1st September | Bottisham, Chittering, Fordham, Haddenham, Lode, Longmeadow, Mepal, Stretham, Wardy Hill, Witcham, Witcham Toll |
| w/c 8 September | Aldreth, Burwell, Little Downham, Wentworth, Wilburton, Witchford |
| w/c 15 September | Barway, Coveney, Isleham, Littleport, Stuntney, Upware, Wicken |
| w/c 22 September | Soham |
| w/c 29 September | Ashley, Badlingham, Brinkley, Broad Green, Burrough Green, Cheveley, Chippenham,Ditton Green, Dullingham, Kennet, Kirtling, Little Ditton, Saxon Street, Silverley, Six Mile Bottom, Snailwell, Stetchworth, Sutton, Swaffhams, Upend, Westley Waterless, Woodditton |
| w/c 6 October | Chettisham, Little Ouse, Little Thetford, Newmarket, Prickwillow, Pymore, Queen Adelaide, Reach, Shippea Hill |
The wheeled bin recycling service involves:
* A blue lidded wheeled bin recycling collection, including paper, glass, food & drinks cans, plastic bottles & hard plastic food containers, cartons and cardboard. This will be collected fortnightly.
* A green lidded wheeled bin collection for garden and food waste. This will also be collected fortnightly.
* Refuse in black sacks continues to be collected weekly
These changes were made possible after East Cambridgeshire District Council successfully bid for £5 million from Central Government to fund a new recycling service and retain weekly waste collections.
For more information on the waste and recycling service in East Cambridgeshire please call 01353 665555.