Stockport Council will be launching a new and exciting campaign in the autumn aimed at raising recycling rates in the Borough. Despite Stockport residents having always achieved high recycling rates, recent Stockport Council data shows rates of recycling are on the decline.
After the recycling bins were introduced in 2010, recycling rates exceeded 63% – one of the best in Greater Manchester. However, since then there has been a slow decline in recycling which has not been addressed – until now.
Disposing of black bin waste costs the Council money whilst also costing the environment. Current forecasts suggest black bin waste collected per household will be more this year than in 2014/15 – something that needs to change.
Currently, Stockport is one of the few North West Councils to maintain twice-weekly black bin collections and keep green waste collection free. In order for these services to be maintained for the future, Stockport Council is encouraging residents to go the extra mile and up their recycling rates once again.
To do so, Stockport Council is launching a Borough-wide, comprehensive recycling campaign involving residents, schools, businesses and the Council itself this Autumn. The maximum that could reasonably be achieved would be 70% but getting back to the 63.7% level would be fantastic.
Cllr Sheila Bailey, Executive Member for Communities and Housing said:
“This campaign will be aimed at everyone who puts anything in a bin – making sure the right things go in the right place can raise our recycling rate- saving both money and the environment.
“Our campaign will also address other environmental issues, like fly-tipping, dog fouling and bags still put out in the wrong place at the wrong time. Stockport residents are already good recyclers.
“However, with this campaign we want to see if together we can go the extra mile and make Stockport the best in the North West. This would be good for tax payers and the environment. We will campaign for a win-win for everyone in Stockport.”
ENDS