5 SUSTAINABLE SECRETS ABOUT YOUR LOCAL TIP




We went behind the scenes at our recycling centre in Wythenshawe to see the work being done to enhance biodiversity.

Emma, the Regional Sustainability Champion for SUEZ UK prioritises positive choices for the environment at multiple waste and recycling sites. Emma’s biology degree gives her an in-depth understanding of how best to encourage nature in the space, here’s how she did it:



tree logs are piled into a mound on he floor of a lush green woodland

1: The ‘secret’ wood

The first thing you see when arriving at Longley Lane recycling centre is the woodland the runs the entire length of the site. On closer inspection we found a dense habitat with thick foliage, and a canopy of trees for nesting birds.

“Each spring the forest floor is covered in bluebells which attract bees who work to continue pollinating the plants at the site”, Emma explained.

“Any trees that fall or are felled get chopped up and piled to create hiding places for insets. The rotting trees provide the perfect base for fungi to bloom in the shady depths of the wood.”




 

2: Reuse instead of single-use

Keeping items in use for as long as possible and stopping them being wasted is vital to reduce our impact on the environment. When chairs and other furniture used by the staff need repairs, Emma sends them to Renew to get refurbished so they can continue being used.

Cutting down on single use items has a big impact on the amount of waste produced. The recycling centres are busy industrial sites and use lots of plastic zip ties to secure fences, signs and more. Swapping the 120 single use zip ties used each month for reusable versions reduced plastic waste and saved £200 in 1 year.



3: Powerful plants

The industrial site is peppered with greenery. Carefully considered plants are an important tool for encouraging nature. But it’s not just pretty flowers, clusters of nettles are dotted around the site.   These might not be the first choice for landscaping, but they are crucially important for butterflies. The insects choose the prickly plants to lay their eggs, with both red admirals and peacock varieties preferring nettles to any other plant.

Large wooden planters hold a huge range of plants to keep insects happy. The bees are spoilt for choice with bluebells and fragrant lavender plants. Whilst birds including finches and starlings enjoy a seasonal buffet of blackberries.

A planter of lavender next to a metal fence. Close up of ripe blackberries on a bush in a grassy area.



4: Award winning loos

When looking to improve sustainability, even the toilets are scrutinised. Emma and her colleague Sadie, Local Sustainability Champion, realised that older toilets on the site were using too much water when flushed. As the toilets were functional, replacing them would have been a waste. So the team researched how to combat the soggy problem in the most sustainable way.

They discovered a simple device that limits the amount of water that gets flushed. After fitting the device into 6 toilets they saved a tidal 10,000L of water in just 1 year.

For the innovative idea the pair won a SUEZ ‘Best New Idea’ award in 2023.



wheelie bin storage with a living roof

5: Living roofs

Making room for nature means considering it when building. When the recycling centre needed new wheelie bin storage, they wanted the new piece of equipment to be as sustainable as possible.

Starting with the materials, choosing natural wood uses fewer natural resources and has the least impact on the environment when compared to man-made materials.

Realising there would be several square feet of space on top of the store inspired the sustainability champions to create a living roof. This is essentially a planting area that runs the length of the structure. Plants, mosses and grasses will be added and will become a sanctuary for local insects.




‘Small changes can have a real impact and are really easy to do. Things like not mowing the grass and letting brambles grow encourages wildlife and is something anyone can try.’ Emma says.



This Christmas, don’t forget to put plastic pots, tubs and trays in your mixed recycling bin

This is the first Christmas you can recycle pots, tubs and trays at home!


Recent changes to recycling in Greater Manchester mean we can recycle more at home than ever before. Plastic pots, tubs and trays go in your mixed recycling bin. Lots of food and gifts come in plastic pots, tubs and trays.

Let is go, let it go, let it go... into your mixed recycling bin!
  • Plastic pots (e.g. yoghurt, soup, cosmetics etc)
  • Plastic tubs (e.g. margarine, laundry powder, chocolates etc)
  • Plastic trays including black plastic trays (e.g. raw and cooked meat, fruit and veg punnets etc)
  • Plastic film or cling film
  • Crisp packets
  • Plastic bags, packaging or other soft plastics
  • Pet food pouches
  • Hard Plastics

– On your third advent calendar by 6th December? The plastic tray that holds the chocolates can be recycled!

– Hosting dinner this year? Plastic cream pots, ice-cream tubs and mince pie trays can all be recycled!

Keep an eye out for other recyclable plastic pots, tubs and trays this Christmas. Make sure everything is clean and empty before recycling. If you want more space in your recycling bin, stacking pots, tubs and trays saves room.

Find out more about plastic recycling




LATEST NEWS & EVENTS


wheelie bin storage with a living roof
BLOG | 25th November 2024
5 sustainable secrets about your local tip

We went behind the scenes at our recycling centre in Wythenshawe to see the work being done to enhance biodiversity.

READ MORE
a variety of plastic items that can be recycled
BLOG | 25th November 2024
This Christmas, don’t forget to put plastic pots, tubs and trays in your mixed recycling bin

This Christmas, don’t forget to put plastic pots, tubs and trays in your mixed recycling bin This is the first Christmas you can recycle pots, tubs and trays at home! Recent changes to recycling in Greater Manchester mean we can recycle more at home than ever before. Plastic pots, tubs and trays go in your […]

READ MORE
Planting trees to help convert ex-landfill into greener spaces
BLOG | 21st November 2024
Turning landfills into forests

How we transformed 2 ex-landfill sites into sanctuaries for nature

READ MORE








TURNING LANDFILLS INTO FORESTS




2 ex-landfills + 750 trees = forever homes for wildlife

What happens when you take two ex-landfills and add hundreds of trees to create new forests? We transformed two sites in Stockport and Rochdale into sanctuaries for nature to thrive.



Nowadays we only landfill a tiny percentage of our waste. Almost all our general waste is recycled into electricity through incineration. These relics of the past were closed and covered 40 years ago. Typically, when a landfill comes to the end of its time it’s levelled and covered with topsoil. Weeds and grass then invade, but we knew more could be done to encourage biodiversity at these brownfield sites. Ex-landfills are ideal nature sanctuaries as humans are rarely in these spaces.

City of Trees plant trees for people and the planet to help create greener places, develop green skills and boost health and wellbeing to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergency. In Spring 2024, City of Trees planted over 750 trees on top of these old landfill sites.

All the plants introduced are native species. The mix of different sized plants were carefully designed to harmoniously coexist.  Different layers of the forest including a canopy and shrubs will come together to create a dense habitat. The sheltered environment will attract a broad mix of mammals, birds, and insects.

The forests have been carefully placed to connect with existing woodlands around the sites. These newly created nature corridors will allow animals to move and live undisturbed. Rabbits, roe deer, and foxes already live on the sites. With water vole, bats, and a huge variety of birds living close by.

City of Trees planting trees to help create greener places



The trees do more than just creating a welcoming home for animals. They’re already starting to absorb CO2. This is a positive step towards our ambition to decarbonise waste and recycling sites. The decarbonation project is part of the Five Year Environment Plan. The plan aims for a carbon neutral city region by 2038 to improve the health of our towns, cities, and people. Residents who visit Bredbury and Chichester recycling centres can glimpse the forests as they mature at the sites.






EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DISPOSABLE VAPES 





Every week, five million vapes are thrown away in the UK. Disposable vapes are being used widely to help people stop smoking and the wide variety of flavours, colours and brands have made them really popular in a very short space of time.  

What is the issue? 


fire

Disposable vapes are made using raw materials such as plastic, metal, silicone, cotton, and lithium. Not only are they resource intensive to produce but disposing of these materials incorrectly has a negative impact on our environment. Vapes also contain a battery. 

As the name suggests, disposable vapes are not meant to last long. When they’re binned the battery can be crushed. This can cause a fire in the bin wagon or at the recycling centres.  

Due to the huge amount of disposable vapes being binned incorrectly, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of fires in bin wagons and at recycling centres. This puts firefighters, bin crews and recycling centre staff in danger.

In May, a lorry full of paper and cardboard collected from households in Greater Manchester went on fire on the M60 motorway in Trafford. This caused hours of traffic chaos and meant the entire 15 tonnes of collected paper and card had to be binned. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have said a suspect disposable vape is to blame. Luckily, no-one was hurt on this occasion, but it could have been much worse.




What can you do? 

Recycle them:  

  • Take them back to the shop: shops that sell vapes should provide a recycling facility for them. In fact, they’re legally bound to offer a take-back scheme. If your local shop doesn’t have a collection point, ask them to introduce one. 
  • Alternatively find your nearest recycling point using Recycle your Electricals “Recycling Locator” 
  • Take them to your nearest recycling centre. We’re always looking for ways to improve recycling and we now have special vape bins so you can dispose of your vapes in a safe and secure way.


Swap to re-usable vapes:

By swapping to a re-usable vape you will be creating less electrical waste. You’ll also be helping the planet by saving precious materials from being extracted to manufacture them.  There are many options out there, you can shop around for an alternative which will save you money and have endless environmental benefits. 

For more information on vapes visit: 

Recycle vapes – Material Focus 

Vapes / Vaping devices | Recycle for Greater Manchester 

Video of how to recycle vapes  

Recycle Your Electricals Vapes Film (youtube.com) 






HOW YOUR LOCAL TIP IS IMPROVING BIODIVERSITY





When you hear the word ‘landfill’, you probably don’t think of a place where nature is thriving. But you might be in for a surprise. In Greater Manchester, we saw the potential in these spaces and have made it our mission to make room for nature at our waste and recycling sites.



Creating homes for insects

Our Sustainability Champions are always on the lookout for spaces to give back to nature. We’re on a mission to install planters, bug hotels or wildflowers at all 20 recycling centres in Greater Manchester. Many already boast habitats for critters.

85,000 honey bees call recycling centres home after we created hives at two sites. The bees work hard pollinating local plants which keeps the cycle of life turning. A by-product of their hard work is delicious local honey. This liquid gold sells out incredibly quickly, but if you’re lucky you might be able to find a jar in our Renew shops.

Closing the loop on food

Did you know all the food and garden waste you recycle at home is turned into compost in the North West? Because it’s made up of food scraps the compost is packed with microorganisms and nutrients which help enrich the soil it’s added to. Most of the compost is used to grow wheat on farms close by, which gets turned into bread. Producing food locally means it doesn’t need to be transported on fuel-guzzling planes, ships and trains so has a much smaller environmental impact.

The Recycle for Greater Manchester Community Fund is a pot of money awarded to amazing local projects. Some of the projects have a direct impact on improving biodiversity, like Caritas Dioceses of Salford who transform leftover school dinners into nutrient rich compost. The compost is then used to grow more food on their allotments which is given to people in the local community who struggle to access fresh food.

Turning ex-landfills into forests

Waste management has changed. Nowadays, very little waste from households in Greater Manchester goes to landfill sites. These sites were closed and covered with topsoil decades ago. Although the unruly weeds and grass that started growing on top did offer some protection to natural wildlife like insects, we knew much more could be done to encourage biodiversity in these spaces. We’ve transformed two landfill sites that have been out of use for over 40 years into forests where nature can thrive.

In Spring 2024, City of Trees planted over 750 trees at the sites in Rochdale and Stockport. All the plants introduced are native species and have been carefully curated to harmoniously coexist whilst attracting a broad mix of mammals, birds, and insects.

These new forests will join up with existing woodlands around the sites to create nature corridors for animals to move through and live in. The ex-landfill sites are already home to a wide variety of wildlife including rabbits, roe deer and foxes, with water voles, bats and a huge variety of bird species living in the woodlands close by.

As well as creating a welcoming habitat for animals, the new forests are already starting to absorb CO2. This is a positive step towards achieving our bold ambition to decarbonise waste and recycling sites. The decarbonation project is part of the Five Year Environment Plan which is striving for a carbon neutral city region by 2038.


Why is biodiversity so important?

Biodiversity impacts everything we need to survive. Microorganisms enrich the soil where we grow our food. Roots from trees and plants hold the earth together preventing landslides and absorb water to avoid floods. Even the air you’re breathing right now has been improved by plants filtering the toxins out.

A recent report into the State of Nature analysed our local environment and found a shocking decline in biodiversity. Nearly half of biodiversity in the UK has been wiped out since the industrial revolution. More pollution, more buildings, more humans, meant less space for nature.

Things are so severe the UK is ranked in the worst 10% of all countries for biodiversity. Which isn’t hard to believe as 1 in 4 mammals in the UK are facing extinction.

The Government has made a commitment to stop the loss of biodiversity by 2030. It will also protect 30% of land to support nature’s recovery. The GMCA is working on a Biodiversity Action Plan that’ll set out how we’ll contribute to the national biodiversity commitments.

The good news is we are already working to improve biodiversity in our city-region. Small actions, just like small creatures, can make a big difference. We’re continuing to protect and encourage biodiversity at the 22 waste and recycling sites in Greater Manchester, whilst providing support and funding for projects that nurture nature in our city region.

 

 

 











Ultimate moving out guide for students

You did it, you made it to the end of the academic year! Now, you might be summer ready but are you move-out ready?

Whether you’re moving into another student house, uni accommodation or heading back home, we’ve created the ultimate guide of what to do with the stuff you don’t want anymore. From lecture notes to fancy dress costumes to old tech, here’s the rundown of how to recycle it all.

person taping up a large moving box



Recycling at home

Make the most of your recycling bins. If you’re in halls, the staff will be able to explain the recycling options. If you’re in private accommodation, you can put paper notebooks, flyers, and leaflets in the paper and card bin.

Aerosols, empty perfume bottles, bleach bottles and more go into the mixed recycling. Get a reminder of all the things you can recycle at home here.

Clothes

Did you know even ripped or stained clothes can be recycled? Just make sure they’re clean and dry, bag them up and take them to a clothing bank.

Most big supermarkets have them. You can also use the clothing banks for re-wearable stuff you want rid of including your pub-golf fit. Your local charity shop will take clothes in good condition, but make sure to take donations inside. Leaving bags outside closed charity shops is fly tipping.

 

Food

If you don’t want to take your heavy tins and dried food with you, donate them to your local foodbank for someone else to use.
When you’re getting rid of ancient condiments from the back of the fridge, the empty plastic bottles and glass jars can go into your mixed recycling bin. Glass can be recycled infinitely, and some of those jars might be older than you! Keep them in the loop by recycling.

 

Batteries, vapes and other electricals

Most of us have a collection of broken headphones and other tech hiding in a draw. Electricals (anything with a wire, plug, or battery) can’t go into your bins at home as they can cause fires.

You’ll find battery recycling points in most big supermarkets and some campuses have vape recycling bins. Use the Recycling Locator to find your nearest public recycling point.

 

Big stuff

If you’ve got access to a car you can take furniture and large items to 20 recycling centres across Greater Manchester. Theres a space to donate reusable furniture to Renew to be loved by someone else.

No car? Charities like Mustard Tree will collect furniture for free. If the furniture is beyond fixing most councils have a bulky waste collection service, find more details on your councils’ webpage.

 

If you live in Manchester

You can donate everything from food to books to via the Give It Don’t Bin It donation points at the end of June. Your things will be redistributed to local charities including The British Heart Foundation and local foodbanks. Since 2012 students have donated 2,118,661 tonnes of stuff that have been shared with people who need it.

 

Everything else

Got something that’s not on this list?

You can recycle pretty much anything at our recycling centres. Even if you don’t have a car, you can walk up to the gate and hand things over to the staff for recycling.






R4GM COMMUNITY FUND SUCCESS STORY: PLATT FIELDS BIKE HUB





Based next to the lake in Platt Fields Park, the Bike Hub has been working hard over the past few months to get old bikes back on the road, while at the same time giving refugees a way to get around the city.

We caught up with Zym to find out how the R4GM Community Fund has made a difference to their project.

What was the inspiration behind the project?

The people that are using our workshop are predominantly low-income customers and there has been quite a big demand for bikes. We’ve been approached several times by aid organisations who work with refugees so see if we could help. It’s been the focus for this project to enable people to have their bikes fixed for less than they would normally have to pay or have it done for free.

“It’s a big boost to cyclists in general but particularly for people who struggle to pay for public transport and accommodation. If money’s tight, having a bike for free and knowing it’s safe to ride, whether you’re going to the job centre or an interview, we believe cycling is definitly helping people on low incomes.”

How has the R4GM Community Fund helped with your aims and ambitions?

“It has allowed us to give more attention to this section of our community and allocate appropriate resources towards it. We have been able to increase staff hours to get the bikes ready, and we’re also able to attract a bit more interest from the community in terms of bikes donated towards us. Internally as an organisation, our focus to provide refugees with bikes has meant that we have now allocated time and effort specifically to support that group.”

What has the impact been on the community as a result of the project?

 “The feedback we have been getting from people who have received bikes from us is overwhelmingly positive and everyone is so happy that they have been taken care of in that respect. It means a lot to us as well, it’s very valuable and it feels quite rewarding that you are helping someone who has maybe had help refused before. So just based on that positive feedback we can see that there’s definitly a glimmer of hope and kindness and humanity going..

“It’s difficult to say how long term this will affect the community, but even if we can help a handful of people that’s a handful of people less who are struggling to get about Manchester. We’ve dispensed about 13 bikes so far. We pledged about 35 so we’re kind of mid-way through, but I also feel like this is the winter period and we’ll get probably more interest later on in the year. We’re still trying to link up with other organisations to help us reach those in need. Our focus now is getting the bikes ready for the refugees. Mid way through, I think we’re on track.”

Has there been a specific moment that you feel most proud of?

Adil, a refugee from Uzbekistan, he’s one of the people who gravitated towards us and he wanted to volunteer with us. We were happy that he wanted to spend some time with us, learn a few things about fixing bikes. Hopefully it might lead to employment for him, I’m not sure if it’s possible to offer him employment at this stage as his English is quite limited but we can see he has the knack for mechanics and if his English gets better I’m sure he’ll be able to find employment in a bike shop. The good thing is helping him to get his English up to speed as for most refugees, not all, communication can be a barrier.”

What do you plan to do next?

“We’re going to try and carry on with our own fundraising efforts to continue the programme with refugee bikes in the future. The grant fund that we received helped us to identify the need, get links with relevant organisations and we will look at carrying on so where we know where to go with additional funding, and improving our own fundraising and marketing so we can get dedicated mechanics just for that.”

How can people get involved with the project?

“There are ways of donating, you can find out how to donate on our Facebook, Instagram and our website. We are welcoming anyone who has an old bike who wants to get rid of, so they don’t have to scrap it. We might be able to save parts from it or might be able to do it up and give it to someone who will love that bike. Currently, we’re not open to anyone for bike mechanic volunteering unless they are trained mechanics, or they’re looking to get into the profession and want to get a few more hours on the spanners so they can learn and hopefully help us fix some bikes.

“At the moment, we have two volunteers but that’s peak capacity for us to be able to do what we do and train. If there’s organisations or individuals who know someone who needs a bike definitely send them to us, we’ll try to do our best to sort them out with a bike. The best way to do that is either to ringing us, or pop in. If they need a bike, they need to be sized up so we can make sure we have a suitable bike. If the individuals live far away, maybe it’s best to call or reach out on social media first.”

Do you have an idea for a project? Apply for funding now!




RETHINK GIFTING THIS CHRISTMAS WITH RENEW!





a variety of christmas gifts such as books, art, decorations, and electronics available at renew.



At Renew, you can treat your loved ones to beautiful gifts and save money, without compromising on quality.

Shop our range of handpicked, vintage and preloved items via our online store or eBay page to find something truly special.

You can shop in person too – pop into one of our shops at the recycling centres in Altrincham, Irlam and Oldham for a selection of affordable decorations, kitchenware and furniture.

All of the items we sell have been donated by Greater Manchester residents at our recycling centres, and the money raised goes to good causes across the city-region through our Community Fund and the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity.

Many of the items in our shops are barely used, and some are even brand new.

ONLINE SHOPEBAY STORERENEW SHOPS

You’ll find…
  • Tables, dining chairs and armchairs
  • Soft furnishings and lamps
  • Glassware, crockery and kitchen utensils
  • Kids and adults bikes
  • Toys, books and games

…And much more!


Our shops are located on the recycling centres at:
  • Arkwright St, Oldham, OL9 9LZ
  • Boysnope Wharf, Irlam/Eccles M30 7RH
  • Woodhouse Lane, Altrincham, WA14 5TB






To find out more about Renew

visit recycleforgreatermanchester.com/renew





LATEST NEWS & EVENTS


wheelie bin storage with a living roof
BLOG | 25th November 2024
5 sustainable secrets about your local tip

We went behind the scenes at our recycling centre in Wythenshawe to see the work being done to enhance biodiversity.

READ MORE
a variety of plastic items that can be recycled
BLOG | 25th November 2024
This Christmas, don’t forget to put plastic pots, tubs and trays in your mixed recycling bin

This Christmas, don’t forget to put plastic pots, tubs and trays in your mixed recycling bin This is the first Christmas you can recycle pots, tubs and trays at home! Recent changes to recycling in Greater Manchester mean we can recycle more at home than ever before. Plastic pots, tubs and trays go in your […]

READ MORE
Planting trees to help convert ex-landfill into greener spaces
BLOG | 21st November 2024
Turning landfills into forests

How we transformed 2 ex-landfill sites into sanctuaries for nature

READ MORE








HOW MATTRESSES ARE RECYCLED




If you are replacing your mattress, you can take your old mattress to a recycling centre.

Mattresses are delivered to The Furniture Recycling Group in Bolton, where they are dismantled, ready to be recycled into something new.

Pile of mattresses at the recycling facility

Mattress recycling facts

  • 95% of the materials from mattresses are recycled and remaining 5% go to energy from waste.
  • Up to 1,000 mattresses are dismantled every day at the recycling facility in Bolton.
  • Up to 250,000 mattresses recycled a year.

The recycling process

1. Mattresses are collected from our recycling centres in Greater Manchester.

2. The mattresses are then delivered to the recycling facility.

3. Mattresses are dismantled by hand into 19 component parts.

This includes:

  • Cotton
  • Foam
  • Latex
  • Polycotton
  • Nylon
  • Steel

Mattress storage
Mattress foam
Material Mattress bales

4. The separated materials are then cleaned ready for processing

  • Pocket springs – separated into steel and polypropylene.
  • Steel springs and textiles are baled up ready for reprocessors.
  • Foam is reprocessed into new products in house.

5. The materials are made into new products such as:

  • New mattresses
  • Pet bedding
  • Car upholstery
  • Carpet underlay
  • Stab-proof vests





LATEST NEWS & EVENTS


wheelie bin storage with a living roof
BLOG | 25th November 2024
5 sustainable secrets about your local tip

We went behind the scenes at our recycling centre in Wythenshawe to see the work being done to enhance biodiversity.

READ MORE
a variety of plastic items that can be recycled
BLOG | 25th November 2024
This Christmas, don’t forget to put plastic pots, tubs and trays in your mixed recycling bin

This Christmas, don’t forget to put plastic pots, tubs and trays in your mixed recycling bin This is the first Christmas you can recycle pots, tubs and trays at home! Recent changes to recycling in Greater Manchester mean we can recycle more at home than ever before. Plastic pots, tubs and trays go in your […]

READ MORE
Planting trees to help convert ex-landfill into greener spaces
BLOG | 21st November 2024
Turning landfills into forests

How we transformed 2 ex-landfill sites into sanctuaries for nature

READ MORE





COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS