Residents want to recycle more materials

Early results from consultations suggest that Mancunians want to see new services to recycle materials ranging from plastics and cardboard to food and textiles, while many want recycling made simpler.

Manchester City Council today announces that its recycling and waste consultation is giving clear direction about what services people want and how they should be delivered.

The consultation, which was commissioned last October and will run until late May, has already found that: 

• Residents' awareness of recycling services is high but many people need more information about what waste can go in the recycling bin. 
• Most people want new services to recycle plastics and cardboard, with large numbers of people also wanting to recycle food and textiles.
• Eighty per cent of people only want one refuse bin for waste that can't be recycled.
• More than 90 per cent think everyone should use the recycling facilities provided.
• The proportion of council tax spent on waste and recycling should not be reduced and many people think it should be increased.
• Residents with small gardens or back yards have suggested the City Council looks into having one bin for rubbish and one for recycling.

Nearly 10,000 residents have so far provided feedback and views about recycling issues.

During the next two months, a team of canvassers will in district centres and on doorsteps across the city, asking residents more questions about recycling services.

Market research teams will also be organising focus groups with volunteers from various communities.

Responding to the findings, Councillor Eddy Newman, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: "People are responding enthusiastically to the consultation and they have given us some very clear messages in the extensive surveys carried out so far.

"We will now be asking residents to tell us how these services should be delivered so they can make full use of them. We want more ideas about how we can get every resident recycling.

"The City Council wants to ensure that when our new investments in recycling are decided in the summer, they deliver what residents need to help them recycle as much as possible. I call on everyone to have their say and give us their views."

Anyone who wants to give their views should ring freephone 0800 995 1911 or log on to the Council's website at http://www.manchester.gov.uk/. All residents who call the freephone number will be put into a draw to win £500.

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.

Media enquiries:

Conrad Astley, tel:0161 234 4027