RESIDENTS are being urged to top the recycling charts as the borough gears up for an awareness week.
Recent figures show recycling rates have improved from 43 to 53 per cent in recent years, out-performing national targets.
Monday, September 23 marks the start of the UK-wide Recycle Week and council bosses are asking households to put their current routines under the spotlight.
The borough has received plaudits for topping the tables when it comes to recycling plastic products but improvements are being targeted for food waste.
Councillor Carl Sweeney, cabinet member for the environment, said: “First of all, a big thank you is needed for all the residents who are doing their bit to recycle whenever possible and are in turn helping the borough become a more sustainable place.
"With sustainability never more on the national agenda, Recycle Week provides a fantastic reminder to us all about the opportunities to change behaviours.”
Council analysis shows large volumes of food waste are being disposed via black bins when the most environmentally friendly way is via the green bin.
Cllr Carl Sweeney
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Cllr Sweeney added: “The borough was highlighted as the top of the UK table for plastic recycling and we want to continue the huge strides we have made since the introduction of three-weekly bin collections.
“As part of The Deal, the more people recycle and dispose of their waste correctly the more money the council saves helping it to keep council tax low and save residents money and that’s why it’s vital we reinforce the message.”
As part of the awareness week council bosses are asking residents to recycle as much as they can around the home to establish good habits.
There are a range of ways in which residents can do their bit just at home, whether it’s from recycling cardboard toilet roll tubes and toothpaste boxes in the bathroom, empty cans and milk cartons in the kitchen or grass cuttings and weeds from the garden.
Wigan Council has been working closely with residents in line with The Deal to improve the rates, which not only protects the environment but saves money from not having to pay landfill taxes.
The council has also recently made recycling household waste easier than ever before with the introduction of electronic permits.
The new model allows people with vans and twin axle trailers to apply for a permit online via MyAccount and if the application is accepted, they can get venture to one of the three recycling centres in the borough within two hours armed with a reference and QR code.
For more information on what can and can’t go in each bin or if you want to start more information for recycling visit www.wigan.gov.uk/recycling.
The UK-wide Recycle Week runs from September 23 to 29.
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