Green Champions set to start race to recycle

A new initiative to put recycling in the Rochdale Borough to the top of the agenda has been launched by green minded councillors.  Pennines, Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton Townships have each elected 'Green Champions' - these councillors will champion the council's new emphasis on recycling.

Councillor Wera Hobhouse, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainabilty, who is behind the initiative, says: "Rochdale Borough has a poor recycling record and we need to make a real difference in our recycling performance. Last year we increased our recycling performance by only 2% from 12% to 14% when we should have reached 18%. Every year the targets are getting tougher and we must act now or we fall so much behind we will have to pay millions of pounds in penalties."

Mark Birkett, who is the Green Champion for Rochdale Township, adds: "I am a new councillor in Kingsway and I was quite shocked to find out how much more we have to do to reach our recycling targets.  The Green Champion initiative will focus us to get more people on board."  

Brenda Kerslake, Green Champion for Pennines, added: "By having Green Champions in each township we can engage more directly with residents. Each of our four townships is different with different needs. We want to understand how we can assist each household to recycle more and we want people to have an input in the way we recycle."

The Green Champions have regular meetings to discuss an action plan as to how we can involve residents in each community and how they want to move forward. The recycling target for this year is 20%. 

The Green Champion for Heywood is Councillor Jacqui Beswick and the Green Champion for Middleton Township is Councillor Alan Godson.

Date article online: 26/06/2006