A portable living room is moving around Manchester as part of a campaign urging residents to reuse their old furniture instead of sending it to the tip.
Manchester City Council's waste and recycling team is working with charities across the city to encourage residents to find new homes for their old beds, wardrobes, tables and sofas.
The City Council collected 1,000s of furniture items last year, and although some material such as metal and wood can be recycled, other parts have to be sent to landfill sites.
However, charities such as Age Concern Manchester, The Mustard Tree in Ancoats, Wesley Community Furniture and The Tree of Life, based in Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, can collect unwanted items of furniture for free and pass them on to those in need.
The City Council is holding a furniture roadshow next week to highlight the issue, featuring a mocked-up living room made from old sofas, tables and chairs that have been thrown away by Manchester residents. Representatives from the City Council, as well as charities which collect and distribute the furniture, will be on hand to pass on information.
The roadshow will kick off in the city centre on Monday, outside Halifax bank in Piccadilly Gardens, before moving to Wythenshawe Forum on Tuesday. It will then return to the city centre on Wednesday, when it will be based on Albert Square outside the Town Hall, before ending its journey at Hulme Park in Stretford Road, Hulme, on Friday.
Councillor Eddy Newman, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: "A lot of good items of furniture are thrown away every year, and these could easily be reused by many of the city's charities. The raw material from these items often ends up in landfill sites, so anyone who's moving house or buying new furniture should think carefully about whether their old items could be reused."
Anyone who wants information about charities which can reuse old furniture items should call the City Council on 0161 954 9000.
Manchester City Council launched Challenge Manchester - 100 Days to a cleaner, greener city 2008 on February 14 2008 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 www.challengemanchester.co.uk .You can also e-mail campaigns.team@notes.manchester.gov.uk or telephone 0161 954 9000.
Media contact:
Conrad Astley, tel: 0161 234 4027