Witchford: New Recycling Centre Opens

3 November 2011, 10:51 | Updated: 3 November 2011, 12:05

A new £5.5 million recycling centre has opened in East Cambridgeshire.

Cambridgeshire County Council says the new centre in Witchford [pictured - right] is 'state of the art', as people will throw heavy rubbish into skips below them rather than having to struggle up steps with it.

The new facility replaces an older, smaller, temporary one nearby in Grunty Fen, near Stretham.

It is also all undercover, as opposed to the open air Grunty Fen site.

It's hoped the new centre will encourage people in the area to recycle more waste.

Right now, only 37% of East Cambridgeshire's waste gets recycled, which is the lowest recycling rate among every district in Cambridgeshire.

East Cambridgeshire District Council is targeting to increase that figure to 45% by 2014/15.

Councillor Mathew Shuter, Cabinet Member for Enterprise at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: 'It is fantastic to celebrate the opening of another new recycling centre brought in on time and within budget.

This new centre really is a huge step forward from the old site at Grunty Fen and is a great example of the County Council’s ongoing commitment to invest in new services and facilities. 

I am reliably informed that this ‘cathedral of recycling’ will recycle or reuse waste equivalent to the weight of two Eiffel Towers so I know this centre will be a great resource for local communities in East Cambridgeshire.'