Work will begin on a new, modern Household Recycling Centre (HRC) for March, on 24 August 2026, providing residents with a larger, more accessible recycling facility designed to meet the needs of the area for decades to come.
The £4.68 million facility, to be built on Cambridgeshire County 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.
The site will no longer need to close when containers are exchanged, helping to improve the overall customer experience.
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.
Approved by Cambridgeshire County Council's Environment and Green Investment Committee in July 2024, the new split-level facility has been designed with accessibility, safety and sustainability at its heart.
During construction, residents may notice an increase in traffic due to construction vehicles accessing the site. Cambridgeshire County Council and construction contractor Coulson Building Group will work together to minimise disruption wherever possible.
Cllr Ros Hathorn, Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council's Environment and Green Investment Committee, said:
"The new Household Recycling Centre at March represents a significant investment in the future of waste and recycling services for residents, and I'm really pleased that work is getting underway. We know how much residents value ease of use, and the new facility has been designed with that in mind. It will offer better access, more space, and improved safety.
"I'm particularly excited about the new re‑use area, which will give people more opportunities to pass on items that still have plenty of life left in them.
"Reusing and repairing wherever we can is such an important part of reducing waste and supports a circular economy, where valuable materials stay in use for as long as possible. As a low‑carbon council, we fully support this approach, and we’re committed to making it easier for residents to keep items in circulation and cut down on waste. For example, I still have a very useful step ladder I bought from March HRC!
“This investment will provide residents with a modern recycling centre fit for the future and supports our ambition to build a more sustainable Cambridgeshire."
Find out more on our website: New Household Recycling Centre at March | Cambridgeshire County Council
