Raising the bar for recycling

Councillors Brenda Kerslake and Christine Akram welcome the move to raise household waste and recycling centre barriers to 6’1”.

Entrance barriers at the town’s household waste and recycling centres (HWRC) were raised last Friday (12 September).

Barriers at the three HWRC sites – which are located at Chichester Street in Rochdale, Springvale in Middleton and Peel Lane in Heywood – were set at a height of 5’9” (175cm). However, the trend towards the increased height of vehicles has encouraged the GMWDA to raise barrier heights to 6’1” (185.5cm) across the whole of Greater Manchester.

Councillor Wera Hobhouse, cabinet member for environment and sustainability at Rochdale Council, said: “We are absolutely delighted that these barriers have been raised because it will make it even easier for residents in the borough to recycle.

“A lot of people in the borough told us that they want the height of these barriers to be raised, and we have been working hard with GMWDA to make sure this took place because vehicles are generally getting bigger and bigger. Our mission is to encourage more people to recycle – not deter them. This has been a very worthwhile move.”

GMWDA uses height barriers at HWRC sites to deter traders from illegally using them because they are paid for by householders through their council tax. As such, height barriers have allowed the GMWDA to significantly reduce the sites being abused.

Councillor Neil Swannick, Chairman of the GMWDA, commented: “We have taken on board views from residents and have raised the bar to give more of an opportunity to recycle whilst maintaining the GMWDA’s ability to provide a physical deterrent to traders - the majority of whom use vans or larger commercial vehicles.”

Further information about recycling and waste disposal in the borough go to www.rochdale.gov.uk/recycling or call 0845 226 1800.