Major change to what people can recycle in Oldham announced

A big shake-up of recycling is coming to nine Greater Manchester boroughs from today (Monday), it’s been announced.

The move means residents in Oldham, Bury, Bolton, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford will now be able to recycle a wider range of plastic items in their household mixed recycling bin.

Previously, only plastic bottles could be recycled at home.

Specifically plastic pots, like yoghurts, soup, and cosmetics; plastic tubs, like margarine, laundry powder, and chocolates; and plastic trays, including black plastic trays, for raw and cooked meat and fruit and veg punnets can now be recycled.

Already, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, food tins, drinks cans, aerosols, and foil could be recycled.

But items with plastic films like crisp packets, bread bags, pet food pouches and carrier bags, still cannot go in the recycling bin.

“We’re already in the top five authorities in the UK for recycling rates and this will help us to continue leading the way,” said Coun Tom Ross, who leads Trafford Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA’s) recycling programme.

“With the Government’s Simpler Recycling policy on the horizon, we have taken swift action to prepare for the coming changes, to ensure we’ll be compliant when the new rules come in.

"These upgrades will keep up our momentum on recycling, giving us time to build our new, cutting-edge materials recovery centre in Manchester while supporting residents to recycle more easily.”

The new government Simpler Recycling will require every local authority in England to recycle a consistent set of materials by April 2026, so wherever you live in England you will be able to recycle the same at work and at home.

The GMCA sub-contracts processing waste to Suez.

Its Greater Manchester contact director, Daniel Carolan, added: “We are pleased that through our recent contract extension, investment in the recycling facilities has enabled the introduction of plastic pots, tubs and trays.

"We know this announcement will be warmly welcomed by residents across Greater Manchester.”

Read more below on what goes where:

Paper and Cardboard bin

Newspapers and magazines
Cardboard boxes
Cardboard packaging (e.g cereal boxes, ready meal sleeves)
Junk mail
Envelopes
Tetra Pak (drink cartons)
Pizza boxes (no food)
Books
Greetings cards, wrapping paper (no glitter)

Food and garden waste

Grass cuttings
Hedge trimmings 
Small branches and twigs
Flowers and plants
All food waste (cooked and raw), including plate scrapings.
Teabags and coffee grounds
Fruit and vegetables
Meat and fish including bones

General Waste

Nappies and sanitary products
Soft plastics like bread bags, salad bags, film
Crisp packets
Pet food pouches
Carrier bags
Compostable or biodegradable packaging
Tissues and kitchen roll
Cat litter
Hard plastic such as plant pots

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