GMWDA Reappoints Chair & Vice Chair
Councillor Neil Swannick and Councillor Michael Young were both unanimously re-elected to the posts of Chair and Vice Chair at Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority’s (GMWDA’s) Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 20th.
The appointment of Councillor Swannick (a Labour councillor for Manchester Council) and Councillor Young (a Conservative councillor for Trafford Council) illustrates the strong, all party, commitment to the waste solution for Greater Manchester, which is currently being procured. GMWDA’s plan for Greater Manchester will see a complete rethink on the approach to waste, with a target of zero growth in the waste produced, and increasing recycling rates to at least 50% by the year 2020.
Neil Swannick has been a councillor since 1998 and in 2001 was elected Chair of GMWDA. During that time he has driven significant change and helped to negotiate agreement of a Municipal Waste Management Strategy. The Greater Manchester partnership has also been able to attract significant DEFRA funding which has enabled the GMWDA and its Waste Collection Authority partners to increase their recycling and composting from around 5% five years ago to nearly 30% today.
Michael Young has been a councillor and a member of GMWDA since 2006. He became Vice Chair to the Authority in 2007. Previous to this, Councillor Young had a varied career including working in Africa and the Former Yugoslavia. He is also the Executive Member for Adult Social Services in Trafford.
Both councillors are closely involved in the procurement of GMWDA’s contract to provide waste services for the next 25 years to deal with nearly 1.4 million tonnes of municipal waste which is generated each year in the conurbation. The contract will bring to Greater Manchester, the latest waste technologies, proven in Europe but never seen before in the UK on this scale, and the contract is generally acknowledged to be the largest waste services contract to be let in Western Europe.
Councillor Neil Swannick, Chair of the Authority commented: “I am delighted to have been reappointed into the position of Chair for the Authority. In spite of a change in the political make-up of Greater Manchester, I believe that our partners can take comfort from the result, that all members are totally committed to our stated strategy to deliver cost efficient and sustainable waste management for the people of Greater Manchester.”
Councillor Michael Young, Vice Chair of the Authority added: “I am very happy to continue to be Vice Chair for the Authority and look forward to working alongside members and officers to complete the signing of the new contract for Greater Manchester and be part of its implementation.”
NOTES FOR EDITORS
GMWDA is the largest of six English waste disposal authorities that were created under the Local Government Act 1985. GMWDA provides waste disposal services for over 958,000 households in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford. It handles around 5% of national municipal waste.
The Authority is in the later stages of a procurement of a 25 year waste services contract using the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). In January 2007 the Authority appointed the Viridor/Laing consortia as its Preferred Bidder. The Authority has subsequently provided details of the emerging technical solution and new infrastructure (see Press Related Press Releases at: www.gmwda.gov.uk).
For further information please call Anna Figgins-Barrett, Communications Manager on 0161 770 1721.