Workers at the Hurstwood Court tip on Raikes Lane have been scouring the sacks, according to one user of the recycling centre.
SUEZ, which runs the centre alongside all tips in Greater Manchester, says the measure is being taken is in order to find recyclable materials in non-recyclable bags, thus allowing more recycling to be done.
But concern has been raised about it, with critics saying that it is an “invasion of privacy”.
“When residents visit one of the twenty recycling centres we operate across Greater Manchester, our staff are there to help and offer advice.
Stuart Lever “They talk to visitors to understand what materials are being brought to site, provide guidance on the correct disposal methods, and direct them to the correct recycling container.
“However, we are still seeing large amounts of recycling ending up in non-recyclable waste containers — often hidden in bin bags.
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He added: “Once these materials are placed in the non-recyclable waste container, they are no longer suitable for recycling and must be disposed of at an energy-from-waste facility.
Hurstwood Court Recycling Centre “Our teams do their best to intercept these materials, to direct them to the recycling containers. We advise members of the public to separate their waste before they visit, and in some cases will ask to see what people are bringing in to make sure the recycling goes in the right container.
“By doing so, we can recover valuable materials and continue to increase the amount of waste sent for recycling.”
Resident and former councillor, Stuart Lever, raised concern about staff searching through the binbags.
He said: “It happens every time I go. I was just mortified when they asked could they search my bags, I was stunned.
“It first happened last summer – it must have been brought in around that time.
“I think it’s terrible, the matter needs to be referred to the ombudsman for a proper decision.
“Whatever the ombudsman decides will apply to the whole country. It is a breach of privacy, and if the ombudsman says it is, it will apply everywhere.”
