The contract is estimated by the Local Democracy Reporting Service to cost more than £2.2 million in 2025/26 – which will be split across the two councils.
The plan is reported to see an additional 400 tonnes of waste recycled every month.
There have been calls from some councillors for the contract to be delayed until “critical data” is available on its environmental impact.
However, an amendment asking for the contract to be deferred did not gain enough support to pass.
Labour councillor Rosy Moore, executive councillor for climate action and environment, said that the new contract was the “best option in these circumstances” and that she would submit a report in six to 12 months with data on the environmental impact.
Liberal Democrat city councillor, Olaf Hauk, warned: “We are told the new contract will increase efficiency from 80 to 99% and most recycled materials will be sold on the UK market and this is encouraging.
“However, residents are rightly questioning the environmental and logistical impact of transporting waste over 400 miles from Waterbeach to Northern Ireland, a journey crossing the Irish Sea.
“You could hardly find a spot further away from Waterbeach within the UK.”
Although there is a waste recycling facility in Waterbeach, the operator failed to submit a valid bid for the tender.
A community scrutiny committee formed of Cambridge city councillors reviewed the contract on Thursday last week (16 January 2025).
Green Party councillor Elliot Tong said that the committee did not have “a chance to really debate or look at alternatives”.
Tong said: “There is a shocking lack of consideration of the environmental impacts, particularly when it comes to carbon footprint, there is really nothing we can see from it.”
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