Last big increase in Levy agreed as GMWDA sets the budget for 2013/14

Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority logo

On Friday the 8 February, the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) set a 2013/14 Levy at £166.1 million, an increase of 14.15% on the current year. In 2014/15 the rise will be 2.98%, and from 2015/16 and for the next 20 years will be around 70% of inflation.

The 14.15% Levy increase, which adds around 2.6% to residents Council Tax Bill, is necessary to fund the completion of the £631 million investment used to build sustainable waste management facilities in Greater Manchester.

Councillor Neil Swannick, Chair of Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority said: “We know this is a big rise. It is however needed to enable us to complete the facilities being built, which means we can recycle much more and avoid landfill.

Through the facilities, and our residents participation we are already diverting 57% away from landfill and we are working hard to increase diversion to 90%. That means, if we achieve it, we would be saving around £29 million pounds a year. We are also moving closer towards our ambition of zero waste to landfill, where everything we throw away will become a resource, and in so doing helping the fight against climate change.”