Councils Aim to Cut Costs of Waste Collection : Cambridgeshire Councils Cross Political Divide to Unify Waste & Recycling Services
Two Cambridgeshire, UK councils have joined forces to cut the cost of collecting waste from over 116,000 homes across the city of Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire (Labour and Conservative held respectively).
Cambridge City Council explained that its fleet of 27 bin lorries have begun operating from Waterbeach depot - South Cambridgeshire District Council’s base for waste operations.
The management teams for the two councils’ waste operations came together in August – saving over £100,000 a year – and with the operations now working out of one depot, further efficiencies will be sought to drive down costs.
Waste crews and staff for Cambridge City Council’s previously operated from a depot on Mill Road, which is now earmarked for future redevelopment.
The council added that the single shared waste management team is now working on integrating the bin collection rounds across the two districts in order to make efficiency savings on fuel and vehicles. It is expected the annual savings from the move to a shared waste service will be around £700,000.
“We’re asking residents to be aware that the timing of their collection could change, because the bin lorries are starting from a new place and may take a different route,” commented Cllr Peter Roberts, executive councillor for Environment and Waste at Cambridge City Council said:
Both Councils already take the waste and recycling materials they collect to the processing centres near the Waterbeach depot.
Cllr Mick Martin, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s cabinet member for environmental health added: “The joining up of the crews at one location is a big step toward a fully integrated shared service for both Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.”
“The aim of the move is to take the best of how both councils have run their operations so we can improve the service we provide while driving down costs,” he continued. “Residents are key to reducing costs and we encourage everyone to play their part. Think before you throw to maximise the amount recycled and minimise black bin waste.”
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