Work to begin for new £4 million recycling centre in March

The facility will be constructed on Hundred Road, on land owned by Cambridgeshire County Council, adjacent to the existing centre.

Work begins on August 24, 2026, with a two-week closure planned for the current Household Recycling Centre in April 2027, ahead of the new site opening.

Ros Hathorn, chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s environment and green investment committee, said: "The new Household Recycling Centre 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.

"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.

"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 centre promises to offer improved access, more space, and enhanced safety for visitors and staff.

Key features include step-free, level access to recycling containers, increased parking, better traffic flow, and dedicated access for pedestrians and cyclists.

The facility will also have a purpose-built re-use area where visitors can donate items for a second life.

The upgraded site is designed to serve the growing population of the area through to 2070.

Better separation between users and operational vehicles will improve safety, while canopies will provide weather protection for both visitors and staff.

The new design will also prevent rainwater from becoming contaminated by waste materials.

One major improvement will be that the centre will no longer need to close when containers are exchanged.

This is expected to improve the overall customer experience.

The existing recycling centre will remain open throughout construction, except for a planned two-week closure in April 2027.

This pause will allow the site operator, Thalia, to transfer operations to the new facility.

During the closure, residents will be able to use alternative sites in Whittlesey and Wisbech.

The new HRC replaces the current facility, which must close before the end of June 2027 due to the neighbouring landfill site reaching the end of its operational life.

During construction, residents may notice increased traffic due to construction vehicles.

The county council and contractor Coulson Building Group have said they will work to minimise disruption as much as possible.