People who are interested in recycling are being invited to train up on local initiatives and then show their neighbours what schemes operate locally.
The scheme is aimed at overcoming social obstacles to the success of kerbside collections. These can include residents' forgetfulness, confusion over what materials are covered, the belief that small volumes do not make a difference and reluctance to be the only person in a street who recycles, said waste reduction and recycling officer for Cambridgeshire County Council, Mark Shelton.
Training
The volunteers will undergo a day's training in how local kerbside schemes work, including a visit to Peterborough MRF, where Cambridgeshire's recyclables are sorted. They will also be given a special, easy-to-spot recycling box which is intended to jog neighbours' memories on collection days.
The Master Recyclers' workload will consist mainly of putting their recycling boxes out on the right days, although they will also have the option of helping with surveys and promoting recycling locally. Mr Shelton said: “They will hopefully show others in the neighbourhood that recycling is a normal thing which everyone does, no matter what your age, race or background.”
Worthwhile
Mr Shelton added: “No one has too little waste to make recycling worthwhile and if everybody who occasionally uses their box recycled all the time, the percentage of recycled waste in Cambridgeshire would more than double. We have to reach 33% recycling by 2004 and now people who care about the state of this county have a chance to make a personal difference.”
The scheme follows the success of a Master Composter initiative that began in the county last year. This has since recruited 150 volunteers who have given presentations in schools and at community events.
For more information on becoming a Master Recycler, contact Emma McCrea, waste campaigns officer for Cambridgeshire County Council, tel: 01223 717572 or e-mail: emma.mccrea@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
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