Town hall signs recycling joint venture

Manchester City Council has today signed a new seven-year waste and recycling contract with Enterprise Manchester Partnership Limited.

Enterprise Manchester will now be responsible for the city's refuse collection service and also for conducting Manchester's recycling schemes.

The company will deliver an improved refuse collection service across the whole of Manchester and work to increase the city's recycling rate.

While always challenging for a city environment to achieve high recycling rates, Enterprise Manchester is relishing the challenge of improving Manchester's waste and recycling services.

The company is looking forward to working with the City Council to respond to the outcomes of the ongoing public consultation on the future of waste and recycling in the city.

Enterprise Manchester will be investing in new vehicles and specifically concentrating on improved customer service for Manchester's residents.

Councillor Neil Swannick, Executive Member for Environment, said: "We are delighted to be working with Enterprise and look forward to working together to improve participation in our recycling schemes and providing a consistently good refuse and recycling collection service across the whole of the city."

Media contact:

Conrad Astley, tel 0161 234 4045.

About 100 Days

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.