Gorton beats national home composting rate

Home composting rates in Gorton are higher than in most other parts of the country.

The area's home composting rate has doubled from 18 per cent to 36 per cent - a rate which is above the national average - in the last two years.

This means 1,290 Gorton households are now recycling their household waste, diverting hundreds of tonnes of rubbish away from landfill every year.

The figures have come about after residents flocked to buy cut-price home composting bins, available at the Debdale Eco Centre in Gorton's Debdale Park.

The centre began supplying the equipment in January 2006, after Manchester City Council went into partnership with the Waste Resource Action Programme (WRAP) in January 2006.

The centre began advertising the bins - which each divert around 180kg from landfill per year - in the area, and Gorton residents were keen to take advantage of the scheme.

Councillor Neil Swannick, Executive Member for Green Issues, said: "Home composting is an excellent way to cut down on the amount of waste which ends up in landfill sites.

"These figures show the people of Gorton, like residents across the city, are passionate about recycling, and the City Council is keen to work with them on this."

The bins are available for £8 - more than half of what they would sell for in garden centres - but are discounted even further if bought online. Anyone wanting a home composting kit should contact www.recyclenow.com or phone the council's Environment On Call line on 0161 954 9000.

Manchester City Council launched Challenge Manchester - 100 Days to a cleaner, greener city 2008 on February 14 at Manchester Town Hall. The campaign will run until 24 May 2008, featuring 100 days of intense activity all over Manchester with the first 50 days focussing on green issues - primarily waste minimisation, recycling and climate change - and the next 50 days focussing on community clean-ups, local environmental improvements and planting schemes.

The council will also be asking residents and businesses about what they want the council to do to help them minimise waste and recycle more. Challenge Manchester began in 2004 with "Challenge Manchester: 100 Days to a Clean City", and in its fifth successful year the campaign returns to its core aim to "clean up" the city.

More information about Challenge Manchester and how you can participate appears on our website http://www.challengemanchester.co.uk/.

You can also e-mail campaigns.team@notes.manchester.gov.uk or telephone 0161 954 9000.