IN reply to “name and address supplied”, March 4. The person asks a number of questions of me concerning recycling in Bolton.

The first question is “how much revenue does Bolton Council receive over a year for handing over collected materials such as tin and paper”? The answer to this depends upon how much recycled waste we collect and how much we don’t. We receive income for the contents of the beige and burgundy bin and pay costs for the contents of the green and grey bin. In 2011/12 we received an income of £25 per tonne for tin, paper, glass etc. We collected 17,700 tonnes and therefore the total income was £442,000. In the same year it cost the council £53.46 for every tonne of green waste. We collected 13,269 tonnes and therefore the total cost was £709,361. However, the most stark figure is this: it costs the council £161.09 for every tonne of unrecycled grey waste. We collected 64,820 tonnes and, therefore, the total cost to the council to dispose of this was £10,441,854. Name and address supplied hits upon the very reason why we have to radically improve recycling as the income we receive is massively outstripped by the huge costs of disposing of nonrecycled waste. We estimate that the changes to the bin collection system that we are introducing will increase the recycling rate from 32 per cent to 41 per cent, resulting in savings of £2.5 million from the overall bill. In simple terms, the more we recycle and the less that goes to landfill, the more money the council saves.

The second question is: “Is it possible to buy bags of the composted garden waste”? GM Waste Disposal Authority will be launching the sale of a compost in the next few months. Bags of compost will be available for sale from Raikes Lane but there may be other outlets as this service is developed.

The final question is: “Is there a strong demand for the recycled materials or does it end up in landfill”?

GM Waste Disposal Authority uses specialist companies to put recycling materials to good use, and is using long-term and secure markets for recycled materials to be manufactured into new products. These manufacturing processes take place across the UK and Europe and depend largely on the varying demand for materials. In addition, we have every confidence that no manufacturer buys recycled materials only to then decide to bury or burn them!

If “name and address supplied” or any other reader is interested in finding out more about what happens once your bins are emptied, then I would recommend that they attend one of the open days that is being held at Hurstwood Court Thermal Recovery Facility, off Raikes Lane. To book a place on this excellent tour, please call 01204 374222 or email education@recycleforgreat ermanchester.com Cllr Nick Peel Executive Cabinet Member Environment, Housing and Skills