Between April 2008 and March 2009, 25,581 tonnes of household rubbish were collected in black bins in Cambridge and sent to landfill.
Local authorities are charged £40 per tonne of household rubbish that is tipped into landfill. This landfill tax is set to increase every year.
It is estimated that 80 per cent of rubbish put into black bins could be recycled, often just by putting it in a different bin, but many people find recycling difficult or confusing.
Participate
Campaigns, leaflets and adverts all help, but to make an impact in every community we also need the support of enthusiastic residents who can spread the word and encourage everyone to participate.
Our community recycling champion scheme encourages local people to help others to recycle more and send less waste to landfill, potentially saving them money.
You don't need any particular experience or specialist knowledge to become a champion: if you believe that recycling is important and are friendly, approachable and willing to convey your enthusiasm about helping the environment to others, we would like to speak to you.
We are particularly keen to recruit people who live in flats or shared accommodation, where residents may not find it as easy to find out about the services available to them.
If you are interested in becoming a community recycling champion, or would like more information about the scheme, please email Mark Buckton or telephone 01223 457673.
Training will be provided to give you the knowledge and understanding you need.
Responsibilities
We only ask champions to undertake activities that fit in with the time they are able to give. These activities might include:
- distributing leaflets to local residents
- acting as a focal point in the community for recycling issues
- meeting with local groups and talking to them about recycling
- displaying posters on notice boards and in local meeting places
- running a 'Recycle for Cambridge' stand or display at local events
- identifying any local difficulties that get in the way of good recycling practice
