Chairman is reappointed

Councillor Neil Swannick reappointed as the Chairman of Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority

Councillor Neil Swannick was reappointed as the Chair of Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) at its Annual General Meeting on Friday the 14 June.

Councillor Swannick, Labour Member for Manchester was first elected as Chair in 2001 and has played a central role within the Authority over the past 12 years.

His reappointment will ensure that environmental and efficiency considerations are at the heart of the Authority’s Contract to help drive the aim of zero waste forward, as well as the opportunity to influence and shape waste policy at a local, national and European level.

The meeting also re-appointed Authority Members onto the three committees overseeing operations, performance and strategy.

Councillor Catherine Piddington, Labour Member for Tameside will Chair the Recycling and Waste Management Operations Committee, which reviews the performance and implementation of the Recycling and Waste Management Contract, monitors the construction of the facilities and considers any improvements or changes in relation to Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs).

Councillor Tony Cummings, Labour Member for Bury will chair the Performance, Policy and Resources Committee, which looks at the overall budget, strategy and policy relating to sustainability, climate change and environmental issues, as well as the Corporate Plan.

The Strategy and Behavioural Change Committee will be chaired by Councillor Chris Gordon, Liberal Democrat Member for Stockport. This committee focuses on how we can get our residents to be good and accurate recyclers.

The meeting also appointed three Independent Members of the Audit Committee (one of which will be appointed Independent Chair of the Committee), and a fourth candidate for the position of Independent Chair of the Standards Committee.

Members also received at the meeting a report on the Annual Review which highlighted the Authority’s achievements in 2012/13.

Waste sent to landfill in Greater Manchester was reduced from 514kt in 2011/12 to 467kt in 2012/13, a significant reduction compared to 2004/05 levels and represents savings of over £40m per annum in landfill tax.

Waste diverted from landfill increased to 54.96%, a significant increase from 21% in 2004/05. The combined recycling and composting increased to 39.09%, in 2004/05 this was at14.05%.

An estimated 276,667 tonnes of CO2 was saved in 2012/13, and once all the facilities are built and fully operational under our ‘zero waste’ initiative it is expected that approximately 400,000 tonnes of carbon per annum will be saved.

40 out of 42 of the facilities are completed, including the UK’s first Thermophyllic Mechanical Biological Treatment – Anaerobic Digestion (MBT-AD) plant treating Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).

The report also set out good news for visitors to the Recycling Centres, as 99.7% of residents are either satisfied or very satisfied and the Recycle for Greater Manchester partnership won two national awards.

Councillor Neil Swannick commenting on his reappointment said: “I am pleased to be reappointed as Chair and I welcome new and existing Members onto the Authority. We are in the 5th year of the Contract and are on target to reach 50% recycling rate by 2015.

"We will continue to show our commitment to local, national and European waste policy to help increase landfill diversion, remain focused on getting residents to be better recyclers and fully deliver what we believe is the most sustainable waste solution in the municipal environment.

"Sustainability is important in doing our bit to limit the impact of climate change. Not only do we need to continue with our recycling messages, but reducing waste in the first instance is equally as important, and can only be achieved through partnership working. Our aim of zero waste is in sight and we will continue in 2013/14 with the environmentally sustainable solution to the treatment of Greater Manchester’s waste.”