Plastic bottles scheme on trial

A trial scheme will allow plastic bottles to be recycled at the Bluntisham waste centre. If the scheme is successful, the arrangements could be expanded across the county, complementing the recycling banks and home collections already available. Mark Shel

A trial scheme will allow plastic bottles to be recycled at the Bluntisham waste centre.

If the scheme is successful, the arrangements could be expanded across the county, complementing the recycling banks and home collections already available.

Mark Shelton, Cambridgeshire County Council's waste management policy manager, said: "This trial will increase the capacity of the county's recycling facilities and will contribute to less waste sent to landfill, but it will only succeed if residents separate their plastic bottles and take them to be recycled.

"Plastic bottles are one of the materials that residents are very keen to recycle as they're aware of the long life it takes for plastic to break down when sent to landfill."

The council said each year an average UK household uses 373 plastic bottles, yet only 29 are recycled.

INFORMATION: It would take 25 two-litre soft drink bottles to be recycled to make a fleece jacket.