You may remember a giant metal Mount Rushmore-style sculpture of the G7 leaders’ heads hit headlines when it appeared on a beach in Cornwall during the G7 Climate Summit last month.
Now, it’s arrived back “home” in Stockport.
But what actually is ‘Mount Recyclemore’? And why is this head-turning sculpture made entirely from discarded electrics set to spend the summer in Greater Manchester?
Made from approximately 20,000 individual items of what is known as e-waste – which is said to include anything that has plugs, cords and electronic components – the arresting installation depicts world leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, American President Joe Biden, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
With e-waste reported to be the fastest growing waste stream in the world, the UN has revealed that the current 53 million tonnes generated annually worldwide is set to more than double by 2050.
Mount Recyclemore was therefore created to raise awareness of this issue.
The sculpture was created by Stockport-based leading UK re-commerce expert, musicMagpie, alongside artist and founder of the Mutoid Waste Company, Joe Rush.
If you're walking through Stockport this week, make sure you head up to Stockport Exchange, in front of the train station, to take in this fantastic e-waste sculpture commissioned by @musicMagpie named 'Mount Recyclemore'.
Research carried out by musicMagpie found that four in five (79%) Brits do not know what e-waste is, and when given the definition of e-waste, nearly a third (31%) didn’t believe it damaged the environment or were unsure. A further 45% weren’t aware it impacted climate change.
Despite its first appearance being made at the G7 Summit in Cornwall, Mount Recyclemore is going to be calling the Greater Manchester town of Stockport its “home” for the summer, having been installed at business hub Stockport Exchange.
Forming part of Stockport BID’s ‘Totally Stockport’ summer activities – which also includes an art trail of 21 gigantic colourful frogs, a food festival, and Stockport’s first Enduro cycling festival – the sculpture will be in situ for eight weeks.
‘Mount Recyclemore’ was created to highlight the growing threat of discarded electricals / Credit: Joel Goodman & Stockport BID
“I’m delighted to be able to bring Mount Recyclemore back to our hometown of Stockport,” said Steve Oliver – founder and CEO at musicMagpie.
“The sculpture is simply incredible to look at and caused a worldwide stir when we unveiled it during the G7 summit in Cornwall.
“E-waste is a growing problem worldwide and its impact on the environment is significant. Our research has found that almost half of Brits currently do not recycle, resell, or donate their old tech to charity, with most opting to hold onto it instead where it ends up at the back of drawers collecting dust.
“I’m hoping that not only will coming to see Mount Recyclemore provide an amazing day out for adults and children alike across this summer, but also help to better educate and empower people to make changes today.”
The sculpture was created by Stockport-based leading UK re-commerce expert, musicMagpie / Credit: Joel Goodman & Stockport BID
Mike Lamont – Chair of Totally Stockport – added: “We are delighted to support Steve and the team at musicMagpie in bringing Mount Recyclemore to Stockport, highlighting the importance of reducing waste.
“This is such a fantastic, innovative work of art that will bring vast numbers of visitors into the town centre.”
It is hoped that Mount Recyclemore’s stay in the region will not only complement the work of Stockport Council and Totally Stockport, but also showcase the continued investment within the town centre.
Featured Image – Joel Goodman & Stockport BID
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Pep Guardiola hints at when Manchester City fans can expect to see their latest arrival
Danny Jones
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has given supporters a rough timeline as to when they can expect to see their new signing, or at least their latest arrival, make his first appearance.
The Blues wrapped up the January transfer window with four major signings: their new attacking number seven, Omar Marmoush (who has already bagged a hattrick on his home debut) promising defensive duo, Abdukodir Khusanov and Brazilian Vitor Reis, as well as their ‘mini-Rodri’, Nico Gonzalez.
However, the club has had another late arrival who was technically signed back at the start of last year but who has spent for the last 12 months or so loaned back to his previous parent club, River Plate in Argentina, waiting to make the move over to the Etihad Stadium – and now he’s here in Manchester.
Speaking on his touchdown in 0161, Pep said Claudio Echeverri won’t be thrown into first-team action straight away but did give a rough estimate as to when City fans could expect him to get involved. You can see him discussing the integration plan in his post-match press conference following the Spurs win.
The mention was only brief but there’s still plenty of reason for Man City fans to be excited by the late January signing.
“Yeah, he [Claudio Echeverri] is going to start to train and mainly will be for the end of the season, maybe the [Club] World Cup and as soon as possible [that] he arrives he can adapt quick for the future.”
As mentioned, the 19-year-old Argentinian attacking midfielder from Resistencia officially put pen to paper with CFG back in January 2024 and was quickly dubbed ‘the next Messi’.
Now, although the football world is often quick to jump the gun with these things and he isn’t the first and certainly won’t be last to be slapped with this premature title, he’s done more to back up these claims since then than he has rubbish them.
Starring at the 2025 Under-20 South American Championships, netting six goals in nine games to finish the tournament as the second highest scorer thanks to notable braces against Brazil and Uruguay as the young Argentine’s finished as runners up.
He also notched 48 senior appearances for River Plate thus far, netting four goals and grabbing eight assists in that time, not to mention having already captained his national team at the 2023 Under 17s World Cup, where he scored another five.
Safe to say there’s plenty of talent to be tapped in this lad.
Once again, Echeverri won’t go straight into the senior set-up for a little while yet, barring a major injury crisis, but he’ll be a more than exciting addition to the City Football Academy and for future first-team lineups for years to come.
Who knows, maybe he’ll be included in an FA Cup matchday squad? Nevertheless, you can expect him to not just come of the bench but hopefully show what he can do at the Club World Cup this summer.
City‘s first fixture as reigning champions of the competition will be against Moroccan side Wydad AC on 18 June 2025.
You can watch Echeverri’s first full interview as a Man City player down below:
The new Man City signing is excited to be finally be part of the club 13 months on from agreeing his contract.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has officially been named Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025.
Taking over the reins from Bolton – which held the title in 2024 – and following in the footsteps of Stockport before that, which held the title in 2023, and even hosted a massive ‘Town of Culture Weekender’ festival with 50+ free events to celebrate and bring its title year to a close, it’s now the turn of the north-eastern Greater Manchester borough of Rochdale.
Rochdale’s year will build on the town’s already-rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement.
More than 35 arts organisations will be bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events, and performances throughout the year.
Unfamiliar with what the ‘Greater Manchester Town of Culture’ title is all about? It’s an accolade that’s handed out every year to different boroughs across the region.
Bury was the inaugural title-holder 2020 and held onto it in 2021 too due to the COVID pandemic, before being followed by Stalybridge in 2022, Stockport in 2023, and of course, Bolton in the year just gone.
The title celebrates Greater Manchester’s culture and heritage.
As well as getting a new title to shout about, it also sees the towns given a grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) culture fund to help develop a programme of cultural events and activities throughout the year.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025 / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
In Rochdale’s case, you can expect the ‘very best local talent’, as this year is promising to put ‘people power’ centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop, and deliver a lineup of creative activities, alongside a number of major events.
This includes the popular free days out for families, an exciting new urban arts festival, two different food and drink festivals, a lantern parade, the Ignite Fire Festival, a Pride parade, and so much more.
You can also expect live music performances, a new people’s gallery, and even some major international collaborations that are yet to be announced.
Rochdale is taking over the reins from Bolton, which held the title in 2024 / Credit: Rochdale Council
“Rochdale is a place with a rich cultural history, so it is great to name it Greater Manchester’s town of culture as it’s town hall and town centre enter a new era,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as the borough was crowned this week.
“Rochdale submitted a fantastic bid for this which, was incredibly exciting and ambitious, while being firmly rooted in its local talent and deep history.