Residents across most areas of Greater Manchester will now be able to put plastic tubs, pots and trays in their recycling bins after upgrades at the region’s sorting site.
Previously only plastic bottles could be recycled in collection bins and processed at the region’s recycling centre on Longley Lane in Sharston, Wythenshawe.
The changes apply across nine out of 10 councils in Greater Manchester, all apart from Wigan, which manages its own waste disposal contracts.
Trafford Council leader Tom Ross said the deal was the “biggest of its kind in Europe” and gave the authority the confidence to invest in its facilities.
The expansion was also made possible after the Greater Manchester Combined Authority signed a contract extension with utility firm SUEZ to 2034.
It means items like plastic yogurt and soup pots, margarine tubs, and trays for things like fruit and meat can be placed in a mixed recycling bin.
But crisp packets, bread bags, pet food pouches and carrier bags still cannot be recycled.
Ross said the upgrade at the site in Wythenshawe demonstrated a bid to “keep up our momentum on recycling”.
He announced that the combined authority was also working on building a new “cutting edge” sorting centre, which would be completed in the next three years.
This will allow plastic films to be recycled and other materials to recycled in future.
Ross also said the changes would help prepare for wider government plans requiring councils across the UK to simplify their recycling policies by 2026.