Tameside set to go green for recycling week

Residents across Tameside are being told by the council that recycling is 'in our own hands' as the borough goes green for Recycling Week.

That's the theme for this year's campaign, which raises awareness of recycling up and down the country. It runs from 23 to 29 September. 

Tameside Council has teamed up with the other nine Greater Manchester councils, with Dukinfield Town Hall one of several buildings across Greater Manchester to be lit up every night in green. 

A recycling trailer will be visiting Asda in Hyde on Monday (23 September) and Ashton Market Ground on Tuesday (24 September) - both between 10am and 2pm - to promote recycling and upcycling.

And the council’s Keen to be Green Arts Award Discover logbook has been updated and relaunched for schools to use this academic year.

Arts Awards are an opportunity to get a national qualification and certificate that pupils can keep in their record of achievement. The logbook includes five different arts activities linked to the environment and projects that educate about conservation and ecology.

Themes include recycling, caring for the planet, respecting nature and conserving the use of water and energy, with children encouraged to spread the message to family, friends and the wider community.

Tameside Cultural Services offers Tameside-based schools 50 per cent funded support to assist with accessing Arts Award Discover and Explore. To find out more or order the logbook for your school, contact Tracy Webster on tracy.webster@tameside.gov.uk. 

One area where residents can help is by ensuring their recycling bins don't get contaminated with the wrong waste.

People are also being urged to implement simple steps, such as removing all plastic and polystyrene from cardboard boxes and making sure food is emptied from cardboard and paper containers before putting them in your blue bin, which can prevent recycling loads being rejected and treated as general waste.

Cllr Allison Gwynne, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Recycling in Tameside has now reached more than 52 per cent and I’d like to thank residents for their commitment. But it’s in our hands to go even further and help the environment. By recycling correctly we can reduce waste in Tameside.

“And our updated logbook is also a great way to educate the next generation on the importance of looking after our environment and instilling good habits for the future.”

Recycle for Greater Manchester are also encouraging residents to get involved by sharing their top three tops of how your school or community venue is taking recycling into your own hands. 

All entries will be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a paid-for return journey for one class or group to either Recycle for Greater Manchester’s Bolton education centre or Manchester education centre. To find out more, visit the Recycle for Greater Manchester website (Terms and Conditions apply).

Recycling information is available on the websites of Tameside Council (www.tameside.gov.uk/refuseandrecycling) and Recycle for Greater Manchester (https://recycleforgreatermanchester.com).