Joyce Ollerenshaw from Stockport Council came to our Cheadle Area Committee yesterday to give us an update on recycling.

• Joyce has been monitoring use of the blue and brown bins in Gatley (blue for paper, card and tetrapak cartons, brown for glass, plastic and cans).  She’s found about 75% participation which, we were told, is good.
• She’s out encouraging people putting out large amounts of rubbish to recycle more, and offering additional bins if needed.
• Recycling containers at Massie Street car park and Cheadle Royal have been replaced.  The new ones match the bin recycling, so they can be emptied by the Council, saving money.  They’re only being emptied two days a week (previously it was seven days a week), so Joyce is keen to know if they’re filling up and need emptying more regularly.
• Consultation is underway with residents of flats to find the best ways to recycle, and the Council is trying to be flexible in offering the right solutions.
• The Council’s assisted collection service is now available to collect from the rear of properties, where  that service is needed and collection is possible.
• A split service along a street (i.e. different people on the street having different collection methods) is possible, but only when really needed.  One example is Francis Street, Cheadle where the properties at each end could take full size recycling bins but the ones in the middle couldn’t and so have the smaller black boxes and white plastic bags.