Work on £4.7m March recycling centre 'fit for the future' to start
The new facility will be close by to the current site
Work on a new £4.68m household recycling centre (HRC) in March is due to get underway later this month.
The facility will be built on land owned by Cambridgeshire County Council adjacent to the existing site on Hundred Road.
Officials say the larger site has been designed to cope with population growth in the area until 2070, while there will be more separation between site users and operational vehicles to improve safety.
"The new HRC at March represents a significant investment in the future of waste and recycling services for residents, and I'm really pleased that work is getting underway," Councillor Ros Hathorn, chair of Cambridgeshire County Council's environment and green investment committee, said.
"We know how much residents value ease of use, and the new facility has been designed with that in mind; it will offer better access, more space and improved safety."
Improved features will include level access to recycling containers with no steps, increased parking, improved traffic flow, dedicated pedestrian and cyclist access and cycle parking.
There will also be a purpose-built re-use area where unwanted items can be donated and given a second life.
The council said the site will no longer need to close when containers are exchanged.
'A recycling centre fit for the future'
The existing March HRC is due to close before the end of June 2027 as it is located on land linked to the neighbouring landfill site which must be restored as it reaches the end of its operational life.
Work on the new HRC is due to start on August 24.
"Reusing and repairing wherever we can is such an important part of reducing waste and supports a circular economy, where valuable materials stay in use for as long as possible," Mr Hathorn added.
"This investment will provide residents with a modern recycling centre fit for the future and supports our ambition to build a more sustainable Cambridgeshire."
The current March HRC will stay open throughout building work apart from two weeks in April next year while site operator Thalia moves its operations to the new facility.
During this time, sites at Whittlesey and Wisbech would be available to use.