Worry over recycling figures but Rochdale bucks the trend

Date published: 14/11/2007

Greater Manchester recycles less household rubbish than other parts of the North-West, according to recent figures.

Residents recycled 22 per cent of their waste, compared with the North-West average of 25 per cent.

Greater Manchester households also throw out more waste than average for the region and England with nearly 70 per cent ending up as landfill.

At current rates, the region only has a total of seven years’ landfill space available.

However, Rochdale Borough is bucking the trend, Councillor Wera Hobhouse, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, explains: "Rochdale Council was praised last month by the chairman of Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority for being the most improved recycling Authority in the region.

"We are currently recycling at around 27% which is above the region's average. It will increase to an estimated 35%- 40% by next year when Alternate Weekly Collections (AWCs) are being rolled our across the whole Borough!

"Our success in Rochdale Borough is a direct result of our new collection scheme. Opposition councillors have been critising AWC's all the way but the success on the ground speaks for itself."

Greater Manchester has set local targets to increase the amount of recycled or composted waste to 33 per cent by 2010 and 50 per cent by 2020.

Anne Selby, of the North-West Regional Assembly executive board and chairman of the new North-West Sustainable Development Group, said everyone can help achieve the targets.

"If every country consumed natural resources at the rate the UK does, we would need three planets to live on," she added.

"Everyone can reduce their waste and recycle more and it’s not difficult to do.

"For example, most supermarkets display fruit without packaging and have facilities for recycling glass and paper.

"You can keep your plastic bags to reuse and any waste paper, or empty bottles to dispose off next time you do your weekly shop."