A new service from Greater Manchester councils is set to revolutionise home recycling across the county.
The concept of recycling has well and truly become part of our everyday lives as an easy way to do our bit to help the planet.
But that doesn’t mean it’s always simple, with certain items unable to go into our home recycling bins.
Fortunately, from October 14, 2024, councils in Greater Manchester will start the collection of plastic pots, tubs, and trays in residents’ mixed recycling bins.
This is in addition to the items you currently recycle, such as plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, food tins, drinks and food cans, and aerosols.
What can you now recycle?
Thanks to the new introduction, you can now also recycle plastic pots, tubs, and trays.
For example, the pots you might recycle include items such as yoghurt, soup, and toiletries; tubs could be margarine tubs, laundry powder, or chocolates; and plastic trays include raw and cooked meat trays, and fruit and veg punnets.
But remember, all items must be clean and empty as food and products left in recycling items cause contamination and can damage the equipment and machinery.
While the new initiative will increase the amount you can recycle at home and make it even easier to be eco-friendly, rest assured that you’ll still have enough space in your mixed recycling bin.
Pots, tubs, and trays are easy to stack together before putting in your bin, saving space for the rest of your recycling.
As previously, plastic film, carrier bags, crisp packets, toothpaste tubes, or pet food pouches aren’t accepted – however, you can recycle many soft plastics at some supermarkets.
Recycling in Greater Manchester
There are real benefits that can be achieved by wasting less, recycling more, and recycling right.
Recycle for Greater Manchester (R4GM) works with local councils in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford, to inspire and encourage residents of Greater Manchester to manage their waste responsibly.
The new ‘pots, tubs, and trays’ initiative is set to do just that by helping to make recycling even easier for local people.
It comes in addition to the many items Greater Manchester residents can already recycle in their mixed recycling bin – meaning they can promote sustainability easily and conveniently from their own home.
