A crackdown on who can use local waste sites could be coming to Greater Manchester. 

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is looking at curbing cross-border use of tips across the region. Documents published by the authority reveal that a number of its sites are being frequented by residents who do not live in GM.

This appears to be being driven by the closure of waste sites in other counties, with GMCA saying this puts 'pressure on visitor numbers, traffic flows and infrastructure' at local tips. It is also 'adding cost to the delivery of the services' which, the combined authority says, are 'ultimately borne' by the region's districts.

Cheshire East Council announced in 2024 that it would be temporarily closing three of its waste sites, with those closures later made permanent. GMCA claims that, from the time of that announcement, GM tips near the Cheshire East border experienced more visitors.

This was particularly notable at the Adswood site, in Stockport, documents add. In the thirteen months prior to the Cheshire East closures the average number of monthly visitors to Adswood was 23,023. This increased to an average of 28,408 visits per month, a jump of 23 per cent.

Longley Lane, Rosehill and Bredbury waste sites also saw more people. These increases came at a time when usage numbers were 'on the whole decreasing', GMCA said.

Neighbouring Derbyshire and Lancashire have also announced they are looking at shutting some of their sites. GMCA said the threat of these possible closures makes it 'prudent' to now take steps to 'try to eliminate cross-border use' of local tips.

The combined authority added it had been considering introducing a booking system, but had decided this was not the right approach at this time. Instead, it is looking at how it can carry out residency checks at its sites. 

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It is proposing a two stage approach to this. First up would be a 'soft introduction' to checks which could initially see visitors told they will need to start bringing proof of address to access the sites. 

These could be in the form of driving licences or council tax bills, documents suggest. After that initial period, random checks would then be introduced at sites.

Stage two could see a more formalised system of checks introduced, with the nature of these still to be determined. Documents add that no new measures will be introduced until after the local elections have concluded in May.

The GMCA waste committee will meet next week to debate the changes.

By Hannah Richardson - LDRS

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