History

In the summer of 2002 an ex short wheel base London service bus with a fully reconditioned diesel Cummins engine was bought and converted into a second Recycling Bus for Cambridgeshire. Sporting the slogan 'The Future is in Your Hands', the design and appearance of the bus is very much geared towards a positive image of people recycling and all the things our recycled waste can be transformed into. As the bus is itself recycled, is comprised both internally and externally of a variety of recycled and recyclable materials, it is a fine example of how we can reuse and renovate old things!

During the conversion, the windows (which will one day be salvaged and turned into a greenhouse!) and seats were removed, the ceiling raised and slick aluminium panels added to form the sides. Now barely recognisable as a bus, bright images of people recycling their waste that is being turned into new bottles, cans, paper and compost are set against a Cambridgeshire landscape. The front of the bus still retains it's destination board where a topical recycling message changes according to the bus' activities.

The interior is bright and modern, a flexible working area designed to be decorated and arranged to suit a variety of functions including classroom workspace, a comfortable meeting place for discussions and presentations or striking exhibition area. The role of this bus is to be very flexible in response to bookings from schools, community groups, District Councils and events organisers. Managed by Kim Warren, experienced in environmental education, conservation volunteering, community involvement and school teaching, the role of the bus is sure to continue to evolve to meet the demands of a continually changing climate of waste management. One thing that will remain is the intention that the second Recycling Bus will try to inspire and motivate visitors to undertake recycling in a way that suits them, without feeling lectured to by their Local Authority.