Waste management training

Rochdale Environmental Action Group (REAG) at the training course on Waste Management at Pilsworth Viridor Education Centre

Rochdale Environmental Action Group (REAG) attended a training course on Waste Management at Pilsworth Viridor Education Centre.

REAG learned the reasons of the various colours for wheelie bins e.g. blue, green, blue lid, green and brown. As people are putting the wrong waste in wheelie bins, it was felt there was an urgent need for further education.

Members of the group were provided with the following information about:

• Greater Manchester’s Recycling and Waste Management Contract. This is the Europe’s largest combined recycling, waster and renewable energy project and handles 5% of the UKs. 
• In-Vessel Composting (IVC) It processes and treats food and garden waste. 
• Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT). It treats non recyclables household waste. 
• Thermal Recovery Facility (TRF). This facility creates energy to power 7 000 homes. 
• Material Recovery Facility (MRF). It sorts glass, cans and plastic bottles from the kerbside collections.

A visit to a landfill enabled the gorup to see the process of management of general waste and the production of energy.

A spokesman said: "Members were very impressed with the waste management process and asked many questions.

"Members found the training very useful and informative. Now they will be working with Viridor and the Greater Manchester Waste Management Authority and the Environment Management of Rochdale Council to raise awareness of the correct use of  the bins provided."