Cambridge City Council has admitted making errors in its communications regarding public bins and recycling in the city centre.
In August, the council faced criticism after claiming it had removed “underused” bins as part of a trial to ensure bins were “in the right place, are the right size and are emptied at the right frequency.” The council now says this statement was “incorrect,” clarifying that “no underused bins have been removed to date.”
Tim Bick, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition to the Labour-run council, said at the time that removing bins was “pretty dangerous.” He added: “If we’re concerned about the cleanliness of the streets that people spend time in – shopping in, having coffee in – it’s difficult to see that [removing underused bins is] going to improve matters.”
The council confirmed it is reviewing bin provision across Cambridge to ensure appropriate placement and capacity.
In addition to the bin statement, the council also admitted an error in a Freedom of Information Act response. The previous FOI reply incorrectly stated that zero waste was recycled from public bins in the city centre. A council spokesman said: “Part of a previous FOI response was also inaccurate. We apologise for these errors and are working to improve internal checks surrounding such requests.”
Some city centre bins are serviced by refuse vehicles equipped with a division to separate recyclable and general waste. The waste is then taken to a Thalia-run facility in Waterbeach, where recyclable content is processed and sorted in line with regulatory requirements.
The council’s clarifications follow public scrutiny and highlight the need for accurate information on city services, particularly regarding waste management and recycling.
