The Neighbourhoods, Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 30 June 2026 to discuss waste, recycling, street cleansing, and the Clean and Green Investment Programme. The committee acknowledged progress in these areas and supported the key priorities for the upcoming year, noting the implementation and early impact of the additional Clean & Green investment.

Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing Update

The committee reviewed the performance of Manchester's waste, recycling, and street cleansing services during the 2025/26 period. The report highlighted progress against key service priorities, updates on the Clean & Green investment for 2026/27, and how these services contribute to cleaner neighbourhoods, increased recycling, and the city's climate change ambitions.

Key discussion points included:

• Investment and Targeting: Councillors welcomed the additional investment and sought clarification on how it would be targeted to areas of greatest need and demand. Councillor Basat Sheikh, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, assured members that investment would be focused on areas with the greatest need, such as those with flats above shops and passageways, and that engagement with residents would inform these decisions.
• Graffiti, Stickering, and Flyposting: The importance of a co-ordinated approach to tackling these issues was emphasised. Councillor Sheikh noted that work was underway with partners, including housing providers and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), to address these problems, particularly on private land.
• Contact System: Concerns were raised about the current contact system, with a request for improvements.
• NI195 Standard: Clarification was sought on what NI195, a nationally recognised cleansing standard, entailed.
• Grass Verges: Discussions covered ownership of grass verges and ensuring litter removal before grass cutting.
• Recycling Rate: The figure of 38.9% for the recycling rate was questioned, with a request for clarification on whether this represented the percentage of total waste. A note was requested to be circulated to members to provide further clarification.
• Garden and Food Waste: The decrease in garden and food waste tonnage in 2024/25 compared to the previous year was noted.
• Inspections: The use of random, unannounced inspections for both Biffa and Redgate was welcomed. It was confirmed that Council officers undertook approximately 10,000 independent inspections annually. A request was made for data on remediation actions and fines resulting from these inspections.
• Recycling Processing: Questions were raised about where co-mingled recycling was processed and whether the heat from composting garden and kitchen waste was utilised. Responses to these questions were to be circulated to members.
• Bin Collections: Improvements to the bin collection service provided by Biffa were discussed, including ensuring crews cleared up properly after collections. Councillor Sheikh reported that he and the Director of Neighbourhood Delivery were working closely with Biffa's senior management to improve performance.
• Missed Assisted Bin Collections: This was identified as a key performance indicator, with ongoing work to improve the service for vulnerable residents.
• Passageway Shared Container Collections: Performance in this area was discussed, with improvements noted but further progress required.
• Bin Provision for Apartments: Issues with overflowing bins in apartment buildings were discussed, with a case-by-case approach being taken in consultation with building managers.
• Contaminated Bins: It was clarified that contaminated waste was not counted as recycled. Damaged bins were recycled into other plastic products. A request was made for future reports to include work on reducing bin contamination through behaviour change.
• Performance Data: A request was made for future reports to include more comprehensive performance data.

Decisions:

• The committee acknowledged the progress made in waste, recycling, and street cleansing services during 2025/26.
• The implementation and early impact of the additional Clean & Green investment programme for 2026/27 were noted.
• The key priorities for waste, recycling, and street cleansing services during 2026/27 were supported.
• A note clarifying the recycling rate figure was requested to be circulated.
• A response regarding the processing of co-mingled recycling and the utilisation of heat from composting was requested to be circulated.
• Data on remediation actions and fines from council inspections was requested to be circulated.
• Future reports were requested to include work on reducing bin contamination through behaviour change.
• Future reports were requested to include more performance data.

Clean and Green Investment

The committee considered the Clean and Green investment programme for 2026/27, which outlines priority activities and targeted investment aimed at improving environmental quality, service performance, and resident satisfaction. The programme focuses on scaling delivery, strengthening core services, and adopting a proactive, intelligence-led approach to neighbourhood management.

Key discussion points included:

• Welcome for Investment: Members welcomed the additional investment, noting its focus on areas that matter to residents.
• Days of Action: The positive impact of days of action was highlighted.
• Friends of Group Co-ordinator: The role of the Friends of Group Co-ordinator was discussed.
• Leafing Programme: The extension to the annual leafing programme was noted, with consideration given to the earlier onset of leaf fall and its impact on active travel.
• Joined-up Approach: The importance of a co-ordinated approach to improving the local environment was emphasised.
• Measuring Success: Discussions focused on how the success of the investment would be measured, particularly in relation to residents' perceptions and satisfaction levels.
• Clean and Green Board Membership: The membership of the Clean and Green Board was outlined, including executive members and officers from various directorates.
• Maintenance of Green Spaces: Investment in green spaces managed by Corporate Property was highlighted.
• Business Compliance: The need for a focus on compliance from businesses, including developers, was stressed, in addition to residents.
• Intensive Neighbourhood Management Programme: The work of this programme was outlined, which involves targeted interventions in priority neighbourhoods.

Decisions:

• The committee noted the Clean and Green Investment Programme and its contribution to delivering cleaner, greener, and more attractive neighbourhoods across Manchester.
• The progress made in implementing the additional investment approved through the Council's budget-setting process was noted.
• It was noted that a further update on the impact of the investment programme would be presented to the committee during 2026/27.

Overview Report

The committee reviewed the Overview Report, which included the recommendations monitor, a summary of key decisions, and the committee's work programme. A request was made for the Manchester Climate Ready report to include information on Airport Phase Aviation Emissions, and for the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) Annual Report to include an update on the Civic Quarter Heat Network.

Decision:

• The committee noted the report and agreed the work programme, subject to the requested additions.