Headlines: April 11th, 2008

More than 11,000 people in Manchester have responded to a city council consultation on the future of recycling services across the city. The consultation is being run as part of the council’s 100-days Campaign to make Manchester a cleaner and greener place to live. The campaign and the consultation have just reached the half-way point.

The council recruited a team of canvassers who have been visiting local communities as part of the process. Thousands of people have also responded to the consultation through a special website, by using a freephone line or attending focus groups. Over 100 businesses have also submitted their views.

The 100 Days Campaign idea was first used in the city in 2004. So far this year almost 3,000 people have been involved in more than 130 clean-up events across the city. More will take place in the second half of the campaign. Other measures have included the planting of around 2,250 new trees.

This year’s campaign has also featured a special push to persuade people in Chorlton to give up using plastic bags. So far 500 people have pledged to do so. Other initiatives have included a book of ideas to encouraging people to recycle and issuing low energy light bulbs. An Environmental Business Pledge, launched in 2004, now has more than 1,000 members.

The campaign has been the springboard for Manchester’s Eco Schools project. Only 27 per cent of schools in England are currently Eco Schools, but 70 per cent of the city’s schools are now working on the scheme.

Councillor Eddy Newman, the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said they had taken the campaign to heart. “Thousands of people have so far got involved, either by attending clean-up operations or giving their views on recycling services, and the campaign is making a genuine difference to people’s lives,” he
added.