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Waste
- Tips on reducing waste
Quick tips on reducing waste. Read more...
- Recycling
General information on recycling. Read more...
- What can we recycle?
Information from Waste Watch on what materials can be recycled.
Read more...
- Recycling projects in Manchester
Useful voluntary sector projects in the city. Read
more...
- Greater Manchester recycling
contacts
Contact to find out where your nearest recycling bank is or how
you can get larger domestic appliances disposed. Read
more...
- Useful numbers
Recycling-related contacts in Manchester. Read
more...
- Electrical and electronic waste
recycling
White goods contain a number of heavy metals that can leach out
of landfill sites. See this section for tips on safe disposal
on recycling. Read more...
- Compost
The average person throws away 74kgs of organic waste a year,
equivalent to 1077 banana skins. But his waste can be composted
into useful, fertile soil. Read more...
- Flytipping and litter dropping
Information for litter bugs. Read more...
- Centre for Alternative Technology
waste-related publications
Read more...
Tips on
reducing waste
Reducing waste is simple if you stick to the 3 Rs:
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Some quick and easy tips to cut waste
- Contact Mail Preference Service to cut junk mail
DMA House, 70 Margaret Street, London W1W 8SS
Tel: 020 7291 3310 Fax: 020 7323 4226
mps@dma.org.uk www.mpsonline.org.uk
- Buy in bulk to cut waste packaging, transport
and save cash
- Use second hand shops
Recycling
The Waste Watch Wasteline
Waste Watch
96 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2TH
Waste Watch Wasteline: 0870 243 0136
http://www.wasteonline.org.uk
http://www.wastewatch.org.uk
The Wasteline can give information about:
- Products made from recycled materials
- How to reduce, re-use and recycle different materials
- Contacts for environmental organisations and trade organisation
- Community re-use and recycling projects
- Local authority recycling services and facilities
Contact Waste Watch for Information on:
Aluminium Recycling, Battery Recycling, Compost, Glass Bottles and
Jars Information Sheet, Paper, Plastics and more.
Information is available online, by telephone or by
post.
Buying recycled products...
Buying recycled products helps 'close the loop', creating a demand
for the materials recovered by recycling collection schemes. For
recycling to work, there needs to be markets for the products made
with recycled materials. Buying recycled helps keep reusable material
in the economy, reduces waste needing to be landfilled and conserves
resources, particularly energy.
Find out where to but recycled products at the Waste Watch website.
http://www.recycledproducts.org.uk/
recycle more
http://www.recycle-more.co.uk
Advice on recycling plus a locator to find your nearest recycling
bank
What can we recycle?
Information from Waste Watch.
Glass
Bottle banks are found in many supermarket car parks and local council
areas and usually have separate compartments for clear, green and
brown glass. Blue glass can be put into the green bank and clear
glass with coloured coatings can be put into the clear bank as the
coating will burn off. The labels on bottles and jars will be removed
during the recycling process, however remove as many plastic or
metal rings and tops as possible. Only recycle bottles and jars
- never light bulbs, window or sheet glass or Pyrex type dishes
as these are made from a different type of glass.
Paper
Most local authorities supply recycling banks for newspapers and
magazines, as this is the most abundant type of paper in household
waste. Make sure that you don't put other types of paper in such
as cardboard or junk mail, as this will contaminate the load and
the reprocessors will not accept it. Some local authorities may
have separate banks for these. Packaging such as milk and juice
cartons cannot be recycled as paper as they have a plastic lining
which would contaminate the process.
Aluminium and steel cans
Many local authorities have mixed can banks accepting both aluminium
and steel cans, although some have aluminium-only banks as uncontaminated
aluminium has a higher value. Aluminium can be recognised by the
fact that it does not stick to a magnet, has a very shiny silver
base and is very light in weight. Steel cans are also called "tins"
as they contain a very thin layer of tin. Try to crush drinks cans
before recycling, either with a can crusher or by squashing them
underfoot. Aerosol cans made from steel or aluminium can be recycled
in Save-a-can banks (check the front of the banks for guidance),
but they must be empty and should not be crushed.
Textiles
Charities such as The Salvation Army, Oxfam and Scope run textile
banks for unwanted clothing, which is then sold in charity shops,
given to the homeless or sent abroad. Even damaged or un-wearable
clothing can be converted into items such as wiping cloths, shredded
for use as filling for items such as furniture or car insulation
or rewoven into new yarn or fabric. If you deposit shoes, tie them
together as they tend to go astray!
Plastic
Plastic is a difficult material to recycle as there are many different
types of plastic (often indicated by a number, or letters such as
PET or PVC). The variation in plastic types means that different
reprocessing techniques are required. The different types of plastic
therefore need to be collected separately or sorted after collection,
as reprocessors will specify which type of plastic they will accept.
Plastic in household waste is often food packaging and therefore
too contaminated to be recycled effectively.
Plastic is a light, bulky part of household waste
and therefore it is difficult for councils to store and transport
sufficient quantities of plastic to make recycling economically
viable. Many councils have found it to be too expensive and do not
have any facilities for recycling plastic, while others recycle
only plastic bottles which are worth more money. If your council
does not recycle plastic, you could try putting pressure on them
to start, but meanwhile try to reduce and reuse as much plastic
as possible. If your council does recycle plastic make sure that
you are recycling the right type of plastic and always remove the
tops of plastic containers so that they can be crushed.
Organic waste
Organic household waste is food and garden waste. Organic waste
is a problem if sent to landfill, because it is impossible to separate
out from other waste once mingled, and will rot producing methane,
a greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. The best way to
dispose of organic waste is to compost it either through a centralised
composting scheme run by your council or at home. Find out if your
council has facilities for taking garden waste for composting or
you may be able to separate kitchen waste for a kerbside collection
scheme if one exists in your area. Alternatively, build or invest
in a home composter for the garden or try a worm bin for indoor
use! Check to see if your council supplies reduced-cost recycling
bins.
Electrical and electronic equipment
At the present time there are very few facilities for recycling
household electrical or electronic waste although this is set to
change with a new EU Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment (WEEE) becoming law in the UK. By the end of 2006 there
should be established collections for WEEE with a collection target
of 4 kg per year per household. British Telecom (BT) telephones
can be returned to BT and there are a number of schemes for recycling
mobile phones. Goods such as working refrigerators and washing machines
can be donated to schemes to be passed on to low income households.
Call the Waste Watch Wasteline on 0870 243 0136 for details of schemes
in your area. Check with your council to see if they have facilities
for household appliances, electronic equipment and CFC extraction
for old refrigerators. You can arrange for the council to remove
bulky household items for disposal.
Batteries
There are currently very few collection schemes for ordinary
household batteries in the UK - with one in Lancashire, one in Buckinghamshire
and one in Bristol. Batteries are varied and complex, come in different
shapes and types and are consequently very difficult to sort and
recycle. The toxic materials have now been removed from ordinary
batteries and they are safe to dispose of with your normal household
waste. Rechargeable nickel cadmium batteries do still contain hazardous
metals and should be returned to the manufacturer where possible.
A few local authorities provide facilities for recycling these,
as well as lead acid car batteries, which may also be returned to
garages. If you use rechargeable batteries look out for the new
versions containing no mercury or cadmium.
Furniture
A network of furniture recycling projects exists across
the UK, consisting of small-scale local projects which take unwanted
household furniture and items, and pass it onto community groups,
low-income families and other groups in need. Call the Waste Watch
Wasteline for further details. Contact your council to arrange disposal
of broken bulky household waste.
Hazardous waste
Household hazardous waste such as paint, solvents and garden
chemicals fall under the jurisdiction of your local council. Contact
your local council to check whether there are facilities at any
civic amenity sites where this type of waste can be deposited. If
you have any tins containing a reasonable amount of paint it may
be worth checking to see if there is a local Community Re>paint
scheme: http://www.communityrepaint.org.uk
or call the Waste Watch Wasteline.
Mixed packaging
Packaging, such as Tetra paks and crisp packets, is often
made up of a mixture of materials including paper, plastic and metal,
and this makes recycling difficult. There is a lack of facilities
and technology for recycling mixed packaging - the materials are
difficult to separate out without contamination.
Packaging is a very visible form of waste, making
up around one-third of the average household dustbin. It is often
necessary to protect the product, prolong its lifespan and provide
essential information. However, over-packaging does occur, especially
for marketing purposes. Basic foods such as bread and rice are rarely
over packaged, while convenience foods often have two or three layers
of packaging. Try to avoid buying over packaged goods where possible
and when choosing a product pick the packaging material that is
easiest for you to recycle locally.
Note that there is a difference between materials
which it is technically possible to recycle and materials for which
your local authority provides a recycling facility. Plastics is
a good example. For a number of reasons many local authorities do
not provide for plastics recycling, even though the technology for
plastics recycling is available.
Recycling
projects in Manchester
Useful voluntary sector projects in the city
EMERGE
EMERGE is based at Units E1- E4 New Smithfield Market, Whitworth
Street East, off Ashton Old Road, Higher Openshaw, Manchester M11
2WJ.
Telephone: 0161 223 8200 Fax: 0161 231 2141
Email: office@emergemanchester.co.uk
EMERGE is a grant funded not-for-profit community
business. It aims to reduce Manchester's environmental impact and
improve social and economic conditions in Manchester and beyond.
Emerge run paper and multi-material collection services for households
in a number of areas around Manchester. Contact them to find out
what they collect and in which areas.
They also run a commercial service for businesses, contact them
for more information.
Grumpy (Greater Manchester Play Resources
Unit)
Grumpy House, Vaughan Street, West Gorton, Manchester M12 5DU
Telephone 0161 223 9730/04 fax 0161 220 9664
resources@grumpy.org.uk
http://www.grumpy.org.uk
Take materials suitable for play donated by business andindividuals.
Makes them available to its membership of childrens' groups.
Acre Recycling
Contact: Mr I Scott
Civic Amenity Site, Bridge Street, Middleton M24 1TP
Tel: 0161 653 5377 Fax: 0161 655 4446
Email: info@acrenet.force9.co.uk
Community based not for profit education & recycling company.
Established in partnership with Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
in 1991 to promote environmental initiatives in the community, A.C.R.E.
has placed itself at the forefront of recycling initiative in the
intervening years.
Greater Manchester recycling contacts
There are hundreds of locations to recycle materials in Manchester.
Here are some contacts to find out where your nearest recycling
bank is or how you can get larger domestic appliances disposed.
recycle more
http://www.recycle-more.co.uk
Advice on recycling plus a locator to find your nearest recycling
bank
Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority
hotline on 0161 911 3583
Local recycling offices;
Bolton 01204 336 653
Bury 0161 253 6603
Manchester 0161 234 4675
Oldham 0161 911 3474
Rochdale 01706 864 230
Salford 0161 925 1022
Stockport 0161 474 4896
Tameside 0161 342 3757
Trafford 0161 912 4912
Manchester City Council
Town Hall Manchester M60 3NY
Phone: 0161 234 4629
Web: www.manchester.gov.uk
Contact Name: Gary Donoghue
Email: recycling@notes.manchester.gov.uk
Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
Trafford Town Hall, Manchester M32 0YZ
Phone: 0161 9124912
Web: www.trafford.gov.uk
Contact Name: Glenn Stuart
Email: glenn.stuart@trafford.gov.uk
Salford City Council
631 Eccles New Road Salford M5 2SH
Phone: 0161 925 1022
Web: www.salford.gov.uk
Contact Name: Diane Higham
Email: diane.higham@salford.gov.uk
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Wellington Road Ashton-Under-Lyme OL6 6DL
Phone: 0161 342 3757
Web: www.tameside.gov.uk
Contact Name: Laura Cresswell
Email: laura.cresswell@mail.tameside.gov.uk
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Stopford House, Stockport SK1 3XE
Phone: 0161 474 4896
Web: www.stockport.gov.uk
Contact Name: Gary Taylor
Email: louise.wilson@stockport.gov.uk
USEFUL
NUMBERS
Recycling-related contacts in Manchester.
GM Waste
One Stop Shop 0161 954 9000
Paper recycling, light green bags
North West Waste Forum
Promotes sustainable resource use and waste management.
Barnhill Studios, Westwood Street, Moss Side, Manchester M14 4SW
0161 223 8200
Computer recycling (ITEM)
0161 223 0135
For recycling and refurbishment of computer equipment in Manchester
ITEM, 412 Ashton Old Road, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2DT
Furniture recycling/reuse
(Wesley Project, Fallowfield): 0161 226 9051
(EMMAUS, Mossley): 01457 838608
Building materials recycling
MERCI, Ancoats
0161 273 1736
Mobile phone recycling/reuse
Corporate Communications: 01209 315513 Scope Recyclaphone: 0800
083 2103 Water Aid: 0207 793 4500
Local bring sites: Tesco Brooklands, Altrincham Rd, Baguely Tesco
Didsbury, Parrs Wood Lane Tesco Northenden, 406 Palatine Rd
Manchester Community Information Network
http://www.mymanchester.net/
All other recycling enquiries
Community Recycling Network: 0117 942 0142
Motor oil
For advice on safe disposal call Oil Bank Line 0800 663366
http://www.oilbankline.org.uk/
Electrical and electronic
waste recycling
White goods contain a number of heavy metals that can leach out
of landfill sites. See this section for tips on safe disposal on
recycling.
Useful Publications
Electrical Appliance Re-use Technical Manual
The Furniture Recycling Network, 2001. To obtain a copy, call their
information line on 01924 375 252.
Unwanted Computer Equipment: A guide to reuse.
The Department of Trade and Industry 2000 URN 00/785. A
free publication call 0870 1502 500 to order.
Unwanted White Goods: A guide to reuse.
The Department of Trade and Industry 1999 URN 00/785. A
free publication call 0870 1502 500 to order
mobile phones 4 charity
Dorset House, Regent Park Kingston Road Fax: Leatherhead
Surrey KT22 7PL
Phone 01372 824265 Fax 01372 824306
www.mobilephones4charity.com
admin@mobilephones4charity.com
Compost
The average person throws away 74kgs of organic waste a year, equivalent
to 1077 banana skins. But his waste can be composted into useful,
fertile soil.
HDRA - the organic organisation
Ryton Organic Gardens, Coventry, Warwickshire CV8 3LG
Tel: 024 7630 3517 Fax: 024 7663 9229
http://www.hdra.org.uk
enquiry@hdra.org.uk
Making compost from garden and household waste is
one of the best things any gardener can do. It's easy and costs
very little in time or effort.
Making compost will help you reduce pollution and cut down your
landfill waste. Your plants will grow healthier and look happier
for it. It will save you money on fertilisers too.
Most household vegetable waste can be recycled though you should
aviod cooked food, citrus fruit and meat amongst other items. Compost
needs to be nurtured and feed with the correct balance of waste
stuffs and occasionally turned and treated. Visist HDRA's website
for advice [http://www.hdra.org.uk/gh_comp.htm] or obtain composting
reference books available from the Organic Gardening Catalogue.
The Organic Gardening Catalogue
Riverdene Business Park, Molesey Road, Hersham, Surrey KT12 4RG
Telephone: 01932 253666 Fax: 01932 252777
E-mail: chaseorg@aol.com
http://www.organiccatalog.com
Compost bins
Fairfield Composting
Contact: Val Rawlison
phone : 0161 370 9745
e-mail : info@gmcomposting.co.uk
www.gmcomposting.co.uk
Sell compost bins at a low cost £18 (+ £3 delivery -
Manchester residents only).
Fairfield Composting produces guides for schools/colleges to undertake
their own waste audits and introduce recommendations to their waste
systems.
For more information, contact Emma Smith 0794 981 9385
Currently developing a large-scale commercial composting scheme.
Free compost bins for people in Lancashire
0845 658 8550
Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Waste Services Lancashire
Environmental Fund and the District and Unitary authorities in Lancashire.
Info and advice at http://www.compost-it.org.uk
Flytipping and litter dropping
Information for litter bugs
ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns)
An environmental charity which aims to achieve litter free and sustainable
environments by working with community groups, local authorities,
businesses and other partners.
Also incorporating the Keep Britain Tidy group.
Contact: Elizabeth House, The Pier, Wigan, WN3 4EX Tel: 01942
824620 Fax: 01942 824778 Email: enquiries@tidybritain.org.uk
http://www.goingforgreen.org.uk/
Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of fridges, mattresses,
sofas, building materials and other large items of junk. Keep Britain
have set up a hotline number 0845 3000 630 to report any inciderts.
Centre for Alternative Technology
waste-related publications
contact them: Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth, Powys,
SY20 9AZ
+44 (0)1654 705950 or visit http://www.cat.org.uk
Info sheet:
Recycling in the Home
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