A new campaign featuring photos of residents and staff on the side of bin lorries showcases best practice for recycling and preventing waste.
The ‘Let’s Waste Less’ campaign launched by Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service (GCSWS) aims to shine a light on good recycling habits including rinsing out tins or not putting non-recyclable items like polystyrene into recycling bins.
Nearly a dozen volunteers from Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire took part, attending photo-shoots and sharing the actions they take which help to reduce waste or aid recycling. As part of the campaign volunteers have been featured on the side of nine new bin lorries to take their messages all around Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.
Recent research* on climate action shows that people usually underestimate how many other people care about environmental issues, and this affects how much action they are willing to take.
Cllr Rosy Moore, Executive Councillor for Climate Action and Environment at Cambridge City Council, said: “Recycling and waste prevention actions are usually hidden – we don’t see our neighbours rinsing their bean tins or making a meal plan. So, it’s great to bring these important habits out into the light and show how lots of people are doing them. This is a really positive campaign, and we hope that residents will feel encouraged that other people really do care about the environment and that our collective actions can make a big difference.”
GCSWS staff also volunteered to help the campaign, with bin lorry driver Lee and loader Hayley giving tips on making space for recycling by flattening cardboard and remembering to recycle aerosol cans. Aerosol cans are often missed out of recycling collections but as they are made from aluminium there is a big environmental benefit to recycling them – it takes 95% less energy to make them into new products than using new material.
Cllr Natalie Warren-Green, Lead Cabinet Member for Environment at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Thanks to help from brilliant volunteers and staff we’re able to celebrate the collective everyday actions of thousands of residents that keep resources out of landfill sites. As the campaign strapline says, let’s waste less. We can do it if lots of us all make small changes.”
Some residents taking part in the campaign are Recycling Champions. These are volunteers who help communicate about recycling and reducing waste in their communities, for example by speaking to people at events.
Volunteer Recycling Champion Ida said: “I do what I can to help because I think recycling is important. I really hope this campaign will have an impact and lead to better recycling.”
GCSWS is inviting all residents to get involved with the campaign to further highlight the role of collective action, with a chance to win a prize.
Cllr Rosy Moore said: “We’d love all residents to get on board with the campaign. Tell us what you do to waste less or make a pledge to take further action and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win one of three £50 vouchers for a supermarket, Cambridge Junction or Cambridge Corn Exchange. I’d like to say a big thank you to all of the volunteers who took part, and to everyone who is doing their bit to waste less!”
Let's Waste Less prize draw
Lots of people are doing their bit every day to waste less, and we want to celebrate that and get even more people to adopt habits that keep resources circulating and out of landfills.
Tell us about your waste-less habits or make a pledge to begin new ones and be entered into our prize draw! We will accept entries between May and 30 August 2025.
Three winners will be drawn at the beginning of September to win £50 of vouchers to spend on a music or comedy show at Cambridge Junction or Cambridge Corn Exchange, or on a supermarket food shop.
