Aylesford Newsprint reports an increase in overall recycling rate, improved quality of collected in England's South Cambridgeshire District following introduction of commingled system with separate paper caddy

Kendall Sinclair

KENT, England , November 22, 2011 (press release) – Ten months ago South Cambridgeshire District Council changed its approach to kerbside recycling. The Council introduced a commingled system, but retained a separate paper caddy. The result has been an increase in the overall recycling rate and an improvement in the quality of the recyclate collected. According to Aylesford Newsprint, the amount of paper recycled has also increased.

In fact, the impact on the paper fraction has been extremely positive. Aylesford Newsprint, which was awarded the contract to reprocess the paper in 2010, reports that not only has the quantity of paper increased, but the quality has also improved.

In October 2010, waste management company AmeyCespa won the contract to sort all the recyclable materials from the South Cambridgeshire district. In an agreement with AmeyCespa, Aylesford Newsprint was selected as the destination for the recovered paper collected from residents within the district. The contract will run for five years, with the option for a three year extension.

The contract covers 61,900 households in the South Cambridgeshire district, from which approximately 6,000 tonnes of recovered newspapers, magazines and other predominantly white papers are delivered to the Aylesford mill for reprocessing each year. Over the lifetime of the five year contract, approximately 30,000 tonnes of paper will be collected and recycled at Aylesford Newsprint. When reprocessed, this will create over 4,000 tonnes of newsprint annually.

The improvement in paper recycling rates has been achieved by South Cambridgeshire District Council’s recent move from their previous kerbside recycling system, to a new commingled system. Under the new system, householders put all of their recyclable materials except paper into the main body of a new 240 litre blue wheelie bin. The blue bin has a detachable 40 litre caddy which is located in the top of the bin, into which residents place paper, a feature designed to maintain a high quality of paper for recycling.

Specially designed, split-body vehicles collect the recyclables and maintain the separation between paper and other materials. The paper is sent directly for reprocessing at Aylesford Newsprint, while the remaining recyclables are transported to a Materials Recycling Facility through AmeyCespa.

South Cambridgeshire District Council moved from source segregated to commingled collections to encourage residents to recycle more by making it easier to participate. As a result the participation rate across the district has increased to 94%, and this has driven an increase in the quantity of material recycled. By collecting dry recyclables and keeping paper materials separate, the Council ensures that collected paper is free from contaminants such as food waste, which can irretrievably stain the material, and broken glass, which can damage the reprocessing filters.

To successfully manufacture newsprint from recycled paper, Aylesford Newsprint works closely with its collection partners to ensure that the recyclate is sufficient to deliver the clean, bright paper required by the UK’s national publishers. The contract will not only ensure that the material is recycled in the UK, but will also deliver best value and give the Council the ability to display a clear audit trail of where and how its recyclables have been used as a resource.

Stuart Harwood-Clark, Environment Operations Manager for South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: "By making it easier for our residents to participate in recycling we have significantly improved both the quantity and quality of the materials we collect. As a result, the materials being sold to reprocessing companies are much cleaner and higher quality. We are very pleased that Aylesford Newsprint is so satisfied with South Cambridgeshire District Council’s paper materials and I would like to thank our residents for helping achieve such great recycling results."

Paul Kirkup, Commercial Manager for AmeyCespa, said: “AmeyCespa and South Cambridgeshire District Council have existing supply contracts with Aylesford Newsprint, which have been in place for several years. Through this time, we have developed a partnership which recognises the high quality and reliable service Aylesford Newsprint provides us. Therefore, we felt they would be best placed to support us with the new service to South Cambridgeshire.”

Gill Denbeigh, Area Manager for Aylesford Newsprint added: “South Cambs considered several options for their new service but chose a good collection method that would keep the high quality of paper. They also have a good partnership with AmeyCespa, who are extremely diligent when it comes to recycling. They understand how to get maximum diversion without compromising the quality of the materials – and that’s good news for South Cambs and for us as the reprocessor. We are very pleased with the quality of paper they supply and both South Cambridgeshire District Council and AmeyCespa’s efforts are to be applauded.”


Aylesford Newsprint manufactures 100% recycled newsprint and is one of the UK’s leading reprocessors of recovered paper. The Kent-based mill manufactures quality recycled newsprint, supplying it to newspaper publishers throughout the UK, into western Europe and other international markets.

Aylesford Newsprint has just launched a new paper product, Renaissance Brite, which will further extend the company’s product portfolio of recycled newsprint into new markets.

One in every seven newspapers collected for recycling in the UK is processed at Aylesford Newsprint’s mill in Kent. Aylesford Newsprint recycles more than 500,000 tonnes of used newspapers and magazines each year in order to manufacture 400,000 tonnes of newsprint.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.