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.
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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.
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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.
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‘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.
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“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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Manchester’s popular board game festival returns this month with hundreds of games to play
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s popular board came festival is set to return later this month, with hundreds of games free to play.
Manchester Board Game Festival is set to kick off 2026 in style, returning for the first festival of the year with a full weekend of board games, role-playing games, indie traders, and community-led fun in the heart of the city.
The festival features a huge board game library, giving fans access to hundreds of games to try out across the weekend – with ‘Library Bees’ on-hand to help people find games, learn the rules, or jump into sessions with other players.
There’ll also be bookable sessions, like RPGs and Blood on The Clocktower, and seminars to take part in over the three-day event.
Manchester’s popular board game festival returns this month with hundreds of games to play / Credit: MBGF (via Facebook)
As well as gaming, visitors can browse the festival’s popular Geek Fayre too, open on the Saturday and Sunday of the event, which showcases indie traders, artists, and tabletop creators from across the UK. From games and accessories, to artwork and geeky gifts, it’s a chance to support small businesses all while discovering something new.
Running from Friday 27 February through to Sunday 1 March, this opening weekend festival marks the start of five events planned throughout 2026.
Events are designed to bring together players of all experience levels for three days of tabletop gaming and social play.
“There’s something really special about the first festival of the year,” commented festival organiser, James Oxley.
“People are excited, they’re ready to play, and there’s a real buzz in the room. Manchester Board Game Festival has always been about bringing people together through games, and we can’t wait to see everyone back in the halls enjoying themselves.
“Whether attendees come for a single afternoon or the full weekend, the focus is on playing at your own pace, meeting new people, and enjoying games in a relaxed and friendly setting.”
Further festivals will follow throughout 2026, including themed Halloween and Christmas editions later in the year, so keep your eyes peeled, but until then, February’s event marks the first chance for players to roll some dice, discover new favourites, and start the year with a table full of games.
Manchester Board Game Festival takes place from Friday 27 February through to Sunday 1 March at Sachas Hotel in the Northern Quarter, with tickets starting from just £13.
Trailer released for new romcom Finding Emily set and filmed all across Manchester
Emily Sergeant
The first trailer for a new romcom that’s set and filmed all across Manchester has been released.
The film, titled Finding Emily, tells the story of a lovesick musician, played by Spike Fearn, who meets his dream girl on a night out, but ends up with the wrong phone number, and so teams up with a driven psychology student, played by Angourie Rice, in a bid to find her.
Together, the unlikely duo spark a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way.
The film – which is directed by Alicia MacDonald, and based on a screenplay written by Rachel Hirons – is produced by Working Title Films, is set in the fictional Manchester City University, and is due to be distributed by Focus Features and Universal Pictures across the UK and internationally this spring.
The talented ensemble cast groups together big names like Minnie Driver with rising stars like Ella Maisy Purvis, Yali Topal Margalith, and Kat Ronney, as well as other established actors including Timothy Innes and Nadia Parkes.
Filming took place in Manchester between August and September 2024.
The two and a half-minute trailer has been shared with the world today, and when we say it’s a Manc film, we mean it… we quite literally lost count of how many of our city’s famous locations can be spotted in just the trailer alone.
The trailer has been released for new romcom Finding Emily set and filmed in Manchester / Credit: Universal Pictures & Focus Features (via YouTube)
There’s everything from Manchester Central Library and Piccadilly Records, to Canal Street and the Gay Village, the Northern Quarter, the Crown & Kettle pub in Ancoats, and even the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in St Peter’s Square featured for all to see, alongside what’ll, presumably, be dozens of other famous locations.
Oh, and not to mention, if you keep your eyes peeled when watching the trailer, you can even see a small clip of Stockport band Blossoms playing a gig in there too.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd July 2021 
