Sign in Subscribe
City councils

Cambridge City Council's Recycling Waste Sparks Controversy Across Borders

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Cambridge City Council's decision to send household recycling waste to a plant in Northern Ireland has sparked widespread criticism from residents and environmental groups, who claim it undermines the city's pledge to reach net zero by 2030. According to estimates, the eight-hour journey emits around 56 tonnes of carbon dioxide every week. The waste is being sent to Re-Gen Waste Management's facility in Newry, which won a contract in 2021 to supply 100,000 tonnes of fuel made from waste to a Norwegian power company. Residents have expressed concerns over unpleasant odours, rodent infestations, and other problems associated with the site.

Key Takeaways:

  • Cambridge City Council has been sending household recycling waste to a Re-Gen Waste Management plant in Northern Ireland since March, despite residents' concerns over carbon emissions and environmental impacts.
  • The eight-hour journey emits around 56 tonnes of carbon dioxide every week, undermining the city's pledge to reach net zero by 2030.
  • Re-Gen won a contract in 2021 to supply 100,000 tonnes of fuel made from waste to a Norwegian power company.
  • Residents have voiced concerns over unpleasant odours, rodent infestations, and other problems associated with the site, with some comparing it to living in a "hell on earth".
  • A local environmental group, RARE, has accused the council of being "reckless" in securing the contract and prioritizing convenience over environmental concerns.
  • Cambridge City Council has defended the decision, citing complex waste contracts and changing timelines, while a spokesperson for the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service claims that recycling from the area is being re-processed at a high-quality facility.
  • A press release from Cambridge Council in February suggested that Re-Gen planned to open a recycling facility on the UK mainland within the first half of 2023, but no site has materialized.

Statistics:

  • Around 56 tonnes of carbon dioxide are emitted every week due to the eight-hour journey from Cambridge to the Re-Gen plant in Northern Ireland.
  • Re-Gen Waste Management's facility in Newry has handled a rise in the volume of waste since July 2023, attributed to council contracts from throughout Ireland and the UK.
  • The Re-Gen plant processes 100,000 tonnes of fuel made from waste for a Norwegian power company each year.
  • Over a hundred residents marched to Warrenpoint Harbour, near the Re-Gen facility, to protest the waste management practices in harsh weather conditions.

Sources:

  • "NIAMH CAMPBELL" article, Cambs Times News, [No publication date]
  • The Telegraph, February 2023
  • Re-Gen Waste Management press release, February 2023
  • Cambridge City Council press release, February 2023
  • The Telegraph, August 2023
  • Ecojustice Ireland press release, [No publication date]
  • RARE environmental group press release, [No publication date]
  • Warrenpoint Community Protest photo, Carlingford Lough Keepers, [No publication date]

Read more