GMCA sets out plans to ‘end waste’

The plan sets out the authority’s plans until 2025 as well as setting longer term targets with a particular focus on business waste.

This will work hand-in-hand with the authority’s five-year Environment Plan which was launched in 2019.

Waste

In the sustainable consumption plan, the GMCA sets out four priorities: Managing waste sustainably, moving to a circular economy reducing food waste and moving to sustainable lifestyles.

In terms of managing waste sustainably, the immediate focus will be on improving data on business waste, to ensure they understand how to work with them to reduce waste and increase recycling.

The Authority will also need to “better understand the implications of the newly enacted Environment Act and make informed decisions, based on the environmental and economic impacts of new service provisions and waste management requirements”.

Once this has been achieved, its next waste strategy will set out how to improve recycling from 47.7% in 2020/21 to 65% by 2035.

The GMCA said it will also explore how additional tax could be used to provide “leverage in establishing competitive waste contracts and upcycling schemes to establish a working circular economy within the conurbation.”

Food waste

In terms of reducing the level of food waste, the GMCA said it will do so through a “sustainable food system approach.”

“We need to reduce the overall amount of food waste generated, ensure we maximise redistribution to ensure that those who are living in financial stress can access such services, ensure that everyone within the conurbation has access to affordable healthy food, increase home growing and composting and stimulate local markets, through a full system approach.”

To achieve this, it will work with public sector bodies through procurement, and work with stakeholders on food waste campaigns.

Sustainable living

The plan sets out how the authority will emphasise that “we all have a role to play to reduce our personal carbon footprint by making more sustainable lifestyle choices”.

To do so, it will launch a new website to “showcase the progress Greater Manchester is making to become carbon neutral.”

A communications plan will also be set out to promote the benefits of joining Greater Manchester in its ambition to become carbon neutral by 2038.

It also plans to embed GMCA plans to embed compulsory climate change awareness training for its staff and a suite of initiatives which “enable colleagues to make informed decisions to enable the conurbation to actively move to more sustainable working practices and lifestyles”.

It will also identify funding streams with partners to work with communities to develop and promote initiatives which also improve social, environmental and economic wellbeing.

We need to help people and businesses reduce avoidable waste

– Cllr Neil Emmott

Outlook

The GMCA said it will now continue to work together with local authorities, partners and stakeholders to “effectively implement the plan as part of the 5 Year Environment Plan’s mission-oriented approach to tackling Greater Manchester’s environmental challenges”.

Cllr Neil Emmott, GMCA lead for green city region and waste & recycling, said: “As our society faces more economic pressures, we need to help people and businesses reduce avoidable waste, which can also reduce bills.

“We need to keep products and materials in use for longer to reduce pressure on the environment. Globally, we currently extract three times the number of natural resources than we did over 30 years ago. This figure is also expected to more than double by 2060 if we don’t make significant changes now.”