The Three Rs

EMERGE runs our wood recycling enterprise in Manchester, along with a number of social enterprises all with the aims of saving resources and helping the local community.

Grown from a voluntary initiative in 1996, “East Manchester Environment & Resource Group Emerge” the organisation continues to be based in what were once the industrial heartlands of East Manchester.

In 1998 they pioneered household recycling in Manchester, building the scheme up to 70,000 homes by 2005. Since then they’ve refocused on the commercial sector and now serve 850+ business clients across Greater Manchester recycling circa 1500 tonnes of waste material per year.

EMERGE runs the Greater Manchester depot for FareShare, receiving surplus in date food from the big supermarkets and food producers and redistributing it to people in need. The food supports over 20,000 people per week and last year they redistributed the equivalent of 2 million meals.

They celebrate two milestones birthdays this year; EMERGE was 20 years old in May with FareShare Greater Manchester 10 years old in July.

To commemorate their 20th birthday they have joined forces with Marble Beers, an award winning craft brewery, who designed and brewed a Berliner Weisse style beer named ‘The 3Rs’, in homage to the mantra Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The beer was made from surplus grapefruits and clementines and you can still get your hands on some if you’re quick via Marble Beers online shop. All profits go to FareShare Greater Manchester. Apparently it’s proving quite a hit with orders from as far afield as Italy!