Chair of GMWDA retires

The Chair of the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA), Bradford councillor Neil Swannick, has retired from his position after 13 years of service.

Swannick was first elected to the authority, responsible for waste services in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford, in May 1999 and was appointed as Chair in 2001.

During his chairmanship, Swannick helped secure a 25-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Recycling and Waste Management Contract with Viridor Laing which has seen over 42 facilities developed throughout Greater Manchester, creating 5,000 jobs. During his time at HMWDA, the region has seen recycling and composting rates rise from four per cent to 44 per cent.

Today (30 May) he will perform his final duty as Chair by opening the new Longley Lane recycling and energy-from-waste facility with Hilary Benn MP. He chaired his final GMWDA meeting on Friday 21 March. 

Speaking of his time with the authority, Swannick said, "After 13 years as Chair, I have decided to step down. As the last of the new waste facilities is completed, I feel my job is done and it is time for new hands to take the reins and, I hope, take GMWDA further towards our zero waste goal.

“I have been very lucky to have a superb team of GMWDA staff and advisors past and present and the pro-active support of the many Councillors, District officers, civil servants and private sector partners who have all played their part in transforming waste management in Greater Manchester."

Councillor Cath Piddington, Labour Member for Tameside and Senior Vice Chair of the authority, added: “Councillor Swannick has done a fantastic job, he has steered the authority through many challenging decisions with the support of all political parties.

“Councillor Swannick’s commitment has been first class and he has made a great contribution to the Greater Manchester community of which he cares immensely and has shown his dedication to by his hard work.”

The recruitment process for a new Chair has already begun, with an appointment expected by 5 July.

Find out more about the GMWDA.