Manchester's waste management system is a collaborative effort between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Manchester City Council...

Manchester's waste management system

Domestic waste collection and recycling

Manchester City Council oversees domestic waste collection, using a standardised four-bin system - blue bins for paper and cardboard, brown bins for mixed recycling (glass, cans, plastic bottles), green bins for food and garden waste, and black bins for general waste

Regional waste management

The GMCA manages waste disposal for nine Greater Manchester boroughs and handles around 1.03 million tonnes of waste each year (about 4% of the UK's municipal waste). It operates 41 facilities across 24 sites, including 20 household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).

As of 2023/2024, Greater Manchester achieved a recycling rate of 50.1%, surpassing the national average of 44%. Additionally, 99.3% of household waste was diverted from landfill, with non-recyclable waste sent to Energy from Waste plants to generate electricity.

Street cleansing and litter management

Manchester City Council oversees street cleansing across the city, which the frequency varying across areas. This is a rolling programme tailored to the specific needs of different neighbourhoods, for instance, in the northern parts of the city, street cleaning occurs every two weeks, whereas in the southern areas, it is scheduled every three weeks, where the need is less. This programme is reviewed constantly to ensure it is meeting the needs of local communities.

In the city centre, street cleaning, including graffiti removal, can take place 24 hours a day to accommodate the high footfall and ensure cleanliness. Additionally, there is an enhanced cleaning programme in the centre, which includes jet washing pavements, deep-cleaning areas, removing graffiti and chewing gum, and litter-picking to improve the streetscape.

The council is also responsible for installing, maintaining, and emptying around 3,000 litter and dog waste bins throughout Manchester. Bins located outside shops (like the one pictured below) are emptied daily, or even more frequently, while others are serviced as needed or upon request.

Waste management challenges in Manchester

Manchester faces several challenges in its waste management system, despite ongoing efforts to improve sustainability and cleanliness.

Fly-tipping and illegal waste disposal

Fly-tipping remains a persistent problem across Manchester, particularly in areas with high-density housing and communal waste facilities. Illegal dumping of household and commercial waste not only blights neighbourhoods but also incurs significant clean-up costs for the council, and if it is not dealt with quickly then it encourages repeat offences. Efforts to combat this include increased enforcement and public awareness campaigns (see image below).

Recycling contamination and low participation

Contamination of recycling bins with non-recyclable materials hinders the efficiency of recycling programs. Common issues include not sorting things recyclable materials and adding food waste to recycling bins. These problems are worse in blocks of apartments with communal bins, where residents may lack clear guidance on proper recycling practices, or there are simply not enough facilities to sort waste materials properly.

Infrastructure and service limitations

Manchester's waste management infrastructure faces several limitations:

• Communal bin challenges - in areas with communal bins, issues such as side waste (waste left beside bins) and overflowing containers are common, leading to unsightly and unhygienic conditions - this is a problem in apartment blocks, but also outside shops and restaurants in the city centre

• Maintaining cycle lanes - the cleanliness of cycle lanes is a concern, with reports of inadequate sweeping and debris removal, posing safety risks to cyclists

• Contract monitoring - the city employs only two full-time contract monitoring officers to oversee waste collection and street cleansing services which makes it hard to ensure that service quality is consistently good across Manchester

• Inconsistent services - many residents complain about inconsistencies in waste collection services, including missed pickups and unclear guidelines on waste sorting

Hazardous waste and environmental concerns

The use of treated sewage sludge, or biosolids, as fertiliser on farmland surrounding the city raises environmental and health concerns. These biosolids can contain harmful substances such as chemicals, microplastics, and heavy metals which can lead to the contamination of soil and water sources.

Strategies to manage Manchester's waste now and in the future

To address these challenges, Manchester is implementing several strategic initiatives:

• Service improvement plans - the council is working with waste collection contractors to enhance service delivery, focusing on areas such as communal bin management and street cleanliness
• Community engagement - e.g. programs like 'Keep Manchester Tidy' encouraging residents to increase recycling rates and minimise what's being sent to landfill
• Infrastructure investment - to upgrade waste management infrastructure, e.g. replacing old litter bins and rolling out electric refuse collection trucks to reduce carbon emissions