Manchester People - Issue 37, New Year 2009

Did you give your views in last year's Waste and Recycling consultation? Around 25,000 Manchester residents did, and since the consultation finished we've been working out how to give you the services you want.

A trial scheme in parts of Wythenshawe, Chorlton and Whalley Range has seen 10,000 homes testing out the improved service, and it's been going really well.

The trial is being carried out at homes that have the 'twin bins' - the blue bin is used for paper, cardboard, cartons, envelopes, magazines and greetings cards, and is collected fortnightly. On the weeks in between, the brown bin is collected; that's used for glass, cans and tins, aerosols, aluminium foil and plastic bottles.

The trials are still going and have proved a hit with residents. John McLoughlin of Wythenshawe (pictured) commented: "I'm so pleased I can now recycle all these extra materials more easily, especially the plastic bottles. Recycling is so easy now."

Since December, 2,800 homes in parts of Wythenshawe and Chorlton have also been testing out a food waste collection; they were given a kitchen caddy to collect all their food waste, which is then emptied into the green bin. The caddies come with special liners that biodegrade when the waste is composted.

Louise Adams from Chorlton said: "I think this new service is fantastic; it's so much better to recycle our bits of leftover food."

Residents have been asking what services they can expect in 2009.

• Zain Ashraf, Crumpsall
• Stan Edmenson, Didsbury
• Ian Burman, Gorton
• John McNulty, Newton Heath

When will your area benefit from the improved collection service?

Our current plans for all houses and two-storey flats are:

• Remainder of Wythenshawe by the end of February
• Remainder of south Manchester in April/May
• Central Manchester by July
• North Manchester by October.

As we go to press we're finalising our timetable for recycling in high-rise flats. To find out when your property will be able to recycle more materials, either visit our website www.manchester.gov.uk/recycling or get in touch with Environment On Call on 954 9000 or contact@manchester.gov.uk