OPINION: What does “Manchesterism” mean for waste and recycling?

Opinion: The wait is finally over. Andy Burnham is the new Prime Minister. Litres of ink has been spilled in since the decisive Makerfield by-election looking at what Andy Burnham and his political programme – “Manchesterism” – might mean for the country. But an overlooked question is: what does it mean for waste?

Manchesterism is a yet-to-be-fully-defined philosophy, but at its heart, is about the devolution of power to people and places, and greater control over the things that shape daily life such housing, utilities and public services so that growth can be shaped around local needs. So far, Burnham’s focus has been on utilities, and but how would waste collections fit into this model?

It will undoubtably mean greater power to local and regional government, particularly Metro Mayors, as it is in this role that Burnham shaped his current ideology.

Burnham was unique in brining waste disposal within the remit of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) for all councils in Greater Manchester other than Wigan, making Recycle for Greater Manchester the largest waste disposal authority in the country, handling around a million tonnes of waste and recycling a year from more than a million households.

Greater Manchester’s waste system is effectively a devolved public service. Local councils remain responsible for collection, but disposal, treatment and strategic planning are coordinated at city-region level through GMCA, creating a single integrated waste system.

It is with this ‘economies of scale’ mindset that has led to the Labour Government undertaking both Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and the current next wave of devolution via the Community Empowerment and Devolution Act. Devolution can be expected to go further and faster under a Burnham premiership, and potentially more Combined Authorities – both existing and those being established – to be encouraged to take up the GMCA model.

This comes at a time when the sector – through waste reforms – and local government – through LGR – are going through important changes. A renewed focus to increase the economies of scale to the Combined Authority level may bring benefits in the long term but added complexities in the short term.

As well as devolution of power, Manchesterism has also been widely associated with public control, although often confused with public ownership. The headline example of this is the Bee Network, where the previously privatised bus service in Greater Manchester was brought under control of the GMCA, who decides routes, sets fares, specifies service standards and integrates buses with other transport modes. While private operators still run many services under contract, they do so according to specifications set by the Combined Authority.

While waste and recycling services are already subject to statutory duties and public oversight, Manchesterism is likely to accelerate a shift towards greater strategic control at the local and regional level. That does not necessarily mean widespread in-sourcing or the end of private sector involvement. The complexity of collection contracts, treatment infrastructure and supply chains means private operators are likely to remain essential delivery partners.

The more significant change is likely to be where decisions are made. Under a Burnham premiership, waste could increasingly be viewed not simply as a local authority service, but as a strategic public service best planned and coordinated across larger geographies. Combined Authorities may take on a greater role in shaping waste policy, infrastructure investment and service standards, bringing waste closer to transport, housing and economic development within a single devolved framework.

For the sector, the implications are profound. The waste reforms and local government reorganisation currently underway may prove to be only the first stage of a broader restructuring of how services are governed. If Manchesterism becomes the organising principle of government, the future debate may not be about who collects the bins, but who controls the system behind them. For waste and recycling businesses, success will increasingly depend on understanding and engaging not just with councils, but with a new generation of devolved power centres shaping services at regional scale.