Press Release 15 September 2006
Manchester Could Be Doing A Whole Heap More
Sainsbury’s major decision to introduce compostable material in its packaging is great news, but pointless if as individuals, we don’t fulfil our end of the bargain.
This is the message from three leading social enterprises in Greater Manchester – Fairfield Materials Management, Fairfield Composting and EMERGE Recycling – who believe that all households and businesses need to be composting if we have any hope of curbing our growing environmental problems.
In a move to help address ignorance on the subject, EMERGE Recycling is looking for volunteers, or `Compost Doctors’ to help spread the message about the benefits of home composting. The work starts in Old Trafford this month.
Working with local community and religious groups in the area, EMERGE aims to help each household to reduce by 170kg the amount of waste collected by Trafford Council by the end of 2007. In addition, compost bins subsidised by WRAP as well as training in communication and composting for volunteers will be given.
As a result of Sainsbury’s decision, which will almost certainly be replicated by other leading retailers, consumers will be able to compost ready-meal packs and fruit and vegetable wrappers, along with their usual food and garden waste.
“We welcome this news by Sainsbury’s, although supermarkets could be doing so much more to reduce the millions of tonnes of packaging produced and wasted every year”, says Emma Smith, Project Manager at Fairfield Materials Management. “Composting helps divert millions of tonnes of waste, which is needlessly and expensively driven to landfill and incineration sites around the country. And the compost is absolutely fantastic for the garden too”.
The less rubbish we put out for municipal collection, the lower the number of collection trips required, meaning less fuel consumption, lower carbon dioxide emissions and less pollution on the streets and the atmosphere.
Composting is effortless, the benefits enormous, its importance seriously under-estimated.
For further information:
Helen Middleton, Marketing Manager, Fairfield Materials Management
Tel: 0161 231 2139, Mobile: 07791 465271
Lucy Danger, Managing Director, EMERGE Recycling.
Tel: 0161 223 8200
Seb Serayet, Community Liaison Officer, The Trafford Project. Tel: 0161 223 8200
