Work will begin on a new, modern Household Recycling Centre (HRC) for March in August, providing residents with a larger, more accessible recycling facility designed to meet the needs of the area for decades to come.

Cambridgeshire County Council say that the £4.68 million facility, to be built on council-owned land at Hundred Road, March, adjacent to the existing centre, will make recycling easier and safer for residents.

Improved features will include level access to recycling containers with no steps, increased parking, improved traffic flow, dedicated pedestrian and cyclist access, cycle parking and a purpose-built re-use area where unwanted items can be donated and given a second life.

The larger site has also been designed to accommodate population growth in the area until 2070, while improved separation between site users and operational vehicles will enhance safety. New canopies will provide weather protection for residents using the facility and for site staff, while also helping to prevent rainwater becoming contaminated by waste materials.

placeholder image — Plans for the new site

The current Household Recycling Centre will remain open and operating as normal throughout construction, with the exception of a planned two-week closure in April 2027 ahead of the new site opening, to allow site operator Thalia to transfer operations to the new facility. Residents will be able to use the sites at Whittlesey and Wisbech during the closure period.

The existing March HRC is located on land linked to the neighbouring landfill site which must be restored as it reaches the end of its operational life. This means that the current facility must close before the end of June 2027, making a replacement site necessary.