The sky is the limit when it comes to recycling

Bert Allman is very pleased with the new height barrier increase.

The height barrier at Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority’s (GMWDA) Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) has increased from 6ft 1inch to 6ft 6inches.

The height increase which changed on the Friday (1 April 2011) will enable residents with people carriers and large domestic vehicles, plus many who have adapted vehicles, access to all the recycling facilities.

It is hoped the increase will not only help to increase recycling rates, but will reduce residents’ journey times to the site, by enabling site users’ to access their nearest site, rather than previously, where only selected sites accepted high sided vehicles.

GMWDA uses height barriers at HWRCs to deter traders illegally using the sites; HWRCs are provided and paid for by householders through their council tax.

John Bland, Treasurer and Deputy Clerk to GMWDA said: “We aim to maximise recycling rates in Greater Manchester and increasing the height of the barrier will allow more residents to recycle up to 23 different categories of waste. Our ambition is zero waste to landfill and we need all residents to get involved if we are to achieve it.”

The new height, coupled with the installation of number plate recognition technology and the current meet and greet policy is hoped to deter potential trade waste abuse, which will ultimately protect the public purse and ensure we are getting the best value for Council Tax payers.