Why should Greater Manchester Recycle?

We produce 1.4 million tonnes of rubbish every year in Greater Manchester - that's over half a tonne each. That weighs the same amount as 242,536 buses! If these buses were parked end to end, they would stretch for 1161 miles!

We recycle and compost over 16% of this. The remaining rubbish (around two-thirds) is transported by road and rail to landfill sites in Warrington and Humberside. By rethinking rubbish, we can reduce the amount of rubbish that is sent for disposal, saving on space and reducing the impact of disposal. However, there are also a few more reasons closer to home to rethink rubbish.

  1. It's as cheap as chips
    By consciously buying products which can be refilled or reused, you can save money on everyday items, for example, buying in bulk or choosing washing detergents which can be filled again. It can also be cheaper in the long run to buy items such as rechargeable batteries or washable nappies.
  2. It's all for charity!
    • There are over 500 charity shops throughout Greater Manchester. They will take your old clothes and bric-a-brac, and what can't be sold on will be recycled. Find your nearest charity shop at www.charityshops.org.uk
    • Furniture stores, for example The Wesley Community Furniture Project can take old furniture for reuse. Scrap stores such as GRUMPY make play resources from off-cuts and other business waste.
    • The Community Re>Paint scheme in Oldham receives leftover paint from households and redistributes it to community groups.
  3. Jobs for the boys (and girls!)
    Recycling in Greater Manchester is providing many people with many jobs - ranging from council workers to community recycling organisations. Many recycling initiatives provide work experience for the unemployed and skills training for people with disabilities.
  4. Don't throw it all away!
    We are throwing away materials which can be reused or recycled to make new products - it doesn't make sense! Glass, paper, textiles, cans and some plastics can all be collected in our region for recycling into new products. Find out what you can recycle.
  5. It's easy!
    0% effort - 100% recycled - 80% of households across Greater Manchester have some type of recycling collection from the doorstep. In addition there are 26 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and recycling banks on supermarket car parks - so next time - drop before you shop! Find out what you can recycle.

Your quick guide to recycling

  • Look on the bank locator courtesy of recyclenow.com for your nearest recycling facilities.
  • Wash bottles and jars before taking them to recycle, or better still, re-use them as they are.
  • Wash and squash your empty cans.
  • Never mix recyclable materials - always make sure the right materials go in the right recycling bank.
  • Make recycling part of your routine - when you go to do your weekly shop, get rid of your empties.
  • Look on the recycling bank for exactly what should go in it. Paper banks are for recycling paper, but not all types are the same, so check before you chuck!
  • If you don't have a garden where you can recycle your organic waste, find out if there's a communal scheme you can be involved in.