Manchester's famous duck race is at the centre of a mass recycling drive

5000 plastic ducks to be disposed of responsibly

Author: Michelle LiveseyPublished 25th Apr 2018

Thousands of the plastic ducks that floated down the River Irwell as part of Manchester's famous duck race are to be recycled.

It follows concerns from campaigners that they can't be reused once they've been in the water.

This year, with the recent push on all things plastic, and Prime Minister Theresa May stepping up the war on plastic waste, the charity behind the race Brainwave, has teamed up with waste company Gaskells to explain what exactly happens to the ducks after they’ve been on their little journey down the River Irwell.

Because of pollution levels in the river, the ducks can’t be returned, so have to be got rid of and new ones used every year.

Waste Services firm Gaskells now work alongside Brainwave to collect the ducks and process them in a responsible way.

Commercial Director at Gaskells Waste Denise Banks said “We’re only too happy to help Brainwave as the work they do for children with disabilities is invaluable, and we want to make sure they don’t lose any of their funding by having to pay for disposal of the ducks. Plastic pollution is becoming a major issue, which we’ve seen with Theresa May’s latest proposals for a ban on straws, cotton buds, etc, and at Gaskells we’re totally committed to the environment. We have a zero waste to landfill pledge and are always looking for the best ways to re-use and recycle waste. Five thousand plastic ducks is a bit of a tricky task, and some plastics are actually quite difficult to recycle, but we’re confident, with the tests being carried out, we will be able to give those ducks a new lease of life”

Carole Headley, Development Manager for Brainwave, said: “The Manchester Duck Race is a fantastic fundraising event for Brainwave and provides us with the much needed funds to continue helping young children across the region. We always ensure that the canal is thoroughly cleared after the race and we’re incredibly grateful to have the support of Gaskells Waste to recycle all our ducks and Bathroom Takeaway for storing them for us.