'CONSIDER THE CARBON' CALL BEFORE NEW LONG DISTANCE WASTE CONTRACT

Liberal Democrat councillors in Cambridge will this week call for the deferral of a new waste recycling contract which will see waste from Cambridge transported over 400 miles to a waste recycling facility in Northern Ireland. They say that its full carbon footprint must be been taken into account in the procurement process.

The contract will be discussed at Cambridge City Council's Environment Scrutiny Committee Meeting on Thursday.

Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Services (GCSWS), on behalf of all the Recycling and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (RECAP) authorities, proposes to award a new recycling contract to an operator that will transport waste from Cambridgeshire to a facility in Northern Ireland, rather than the previous local site in Waterbeach. Shockingly, the carbon footprint of sending lorry-loads of waste across the Irish Sea was not a factor during the procurement process.

Cambridge City Councillor Olaf Hauk, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Climate Action, expressed his dismay:

“Cambridge is fortunate to have a recycling facility right on its doorstep in Waterbeach. While there might be valid reasons for choosing a facility further afield, it’s astounding that the environmental impact of transporting waste such a long distance wasn’t even factored into the decision-making process.”
“We’ve been told that data on the carbon footprint won’t be available before March, when the new operator begins operations - this is obviously too late, because the commitment to the arrangement will then have been made. In an era where addressing climate change is critical, this oversight is deeply concerning. The new operator claims higher recycling efficiency—99% compared to 80% previously—but does that truly justify the emissions from hundreds, if not thousands, of 400-mile lorry journeys?”
Cllr Hauk also questioned the public perception of the decision:
“How can we reassure residents that their efforts to separate their waste are used to maximum effect, if these questions weren't asked before awarding a new contract? Scrutiny of the environmental impacts of such decisions is essential to ensure that Cambridge remains a leader in sustainable waste management.”