Help us to shape the future of Greater Manchester

In summer 2025, we ran a quick survey for residents of Greater Manchester about your waste behaviours. We wanted to find out what you know about waste, why you recycle and what makes it difficult. This information will help us improve our communications.

We asked 10 questions that explored your relationship with the stuff you throw away, your bins at home, as well as wider waste services such as recycling centres. There were also questions about your understanding of the waste hierarchy, which demonstrates that reuse and repair are even better for the environment than simply recycling at home.

In the end, we received almost 9,000 responses from across Greater Manchester. This has provided us with so much rich data that will help shape the future of waste across our city-region.

It’s clear lots of people in Greater Manchester care about recycling.

Your answers showed us why you recycle with environmental benefits being the most common motivator. Over half of you stated that recycling at home had positive impacts for your local community.

In terms of barriers, around 30% of respondents said they don’t always know what goes in each bin. A follow-up question showed items such as batteries, crisp packets and ripped clothing were the items most residents get wrong.

Because we received so many responses, analysing the data has taken a bit longer than expected.

As part of the survey, we asked some demographic questions, this has given us lots of information about who is more comfortable recycling and who might need a bit more support. We’ve been able to target some of our communications at residents who live in flats and people between the ages of 18-24.

There was a lot of appetite to recycle more items at home. This isn’t always possible, but we’ve increased our communications about recycling at locations out of home such as takeback schemes in shops.

Want to know more about recycling? Follow us at @Recycle4gm and check out https://recycleforgreatermanchester.com/

We asked for feedback on the draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) aims and targets, priorities for habitats and species, how the strategy would be delivered and the draft Nature Network map. 

Between November 2024 and January 2025, over 800 residents, community groups, charities, businesses, farmers and landowners across the city-region engaged with the preparation of this strategy.  

Through surveys, workshops, events and webinars, we have heard what people think about the state of our natural environment. For example:  

• Although most Greater Manchester residents (69%) are proud of their local area, 55% of survey respondents think that the natural environment where they live is getting worse. 

• Almost half of survey respondents said they currently think the state of nature in Greater Manchester is poor (41%) and a further third thought it was in moderate condition (37%)   

• Residents stated that they are put off spending time in nature due to a lack of accessible quality green space (14%), a lack of biodiversity (16%), increasing need for land for housing and employment (16%) and green spaces in poor condition (18%). 

These responses show a strong concern about the state of Greater Manchester’s natural environment and its decline. Overall, there was broad support the direction of the draft strategy. There was an ask for clearer, more accessible information, stronger links to delivery and accountability, and reassurances about how the LNRS relates to planning and development. 

The interest and involvement generated through the public consultation on the draft of the first LNRS has been greatly welcomed. The responses received have provided valuable insights, information, and suggestions. The amendments and alterations that have been made to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy have led to a stronger, more inclusive and improved strategy. We can now move towards the next stage of delivery of the actions to support nature recovery and ensure that plays a valuable and important part in responding to the biodiversity emergency. 

You can find more about our response to the consultation in the Public Consultation Report and the published LNRS on our website: Our plan for nature recovery - Greater Manchester Combined Authority 

In partnership with the nine Places for Everyone Plan local authorities, we asked for your input on the draft Holcroft Moss Planning Obligations Joint Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), during November and December, 2024. The SPD helps to guide planning applications for new homes and businesses to ensure that the delivery of the Places for Everyone Plan does not have a negative impact on Holcroft Moss, which is part of the Manchester Mosses Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and is one of most important habitat sites around Greater Manchester. 

There was a total of 24 responses to the consultation. This includes all responses made via the consultation portal and by email. A summary of the main issues raised during the consultation have been published: Holcroft Moss Planning Obligations SPD - Greater Manchester Combined Authority

After the consultation on the draft Holcroft Moss Planning Obligations Joint SPD closed, we analysed all responses received to prepare the final SPD, which was approved for adoption by the nine Places for Everyone Plan authorities and came into effect on 08 May 2025. The adopted SPD is available on our website: Joint Supplementary Planning Documents - Greater Manchester Combined Authority

In partnership with the local authorities in Oldham, Rochdale, and Tameside, during November and December, 2024 we asked for your input on the draft South Pennine Moors Special Area of Conservation (SAC) / Special Protection Areas (SPAs) Joint Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

The SPD helps to guide planning applications for new homes and businesses to ensure that the delivery of the Places for Everyone Plan does not have a negative impact the South Pennine Moors which hold important habitats for breeding birds. 

There was a total of 20 responses to the consultation. This includes all responses made via the consultation portal and by email. A summary of the main issues raised during the consultation have been published: South Pennine Moors SPD - Greater Manchester Combined Authority

After the consultation on the draft South Pennine Moors Special Area of Conservation (SAC) / Special Protection Areas (SPAs)Joint SPD closed, we analysed all responses received to prepare the final SPD, which was approved for adoption by the local authorities in Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside and came into effect on 08 May 2025. The adopted SPD is available on our website: Joint Supplementary Planning Documents - Greater Manchester Combined Authority

The purpose of this registration form is to gain your consent, as a training recipient, to providing your information for the purposes of the delivery of the Bee Smart Project and to provide you with details of how we will handle your data.

Through your responses we were able to identify your local authority and preferences

We have made a note of all responses and will use this data for the purpose of the Bee smart project.