Privacy

Privacy Policy Format This privacy policy explains how The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) use any personal information we collect about you when you use this website. It should be read together with our general privacy notice here.

Who we are The PlasticFreeGM campaign is delivered by The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). GMCA is a body with various powers that is funded by the public and tries to make changes to improve the lives of everyone who lives in Greater Manchester. It has representatives for the people of Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. These people all work together with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.

Why your involvement will make a difference PlasticFreeGM aims to eradicate avoidable single-use plastics by 2020 across Greater Manchester. The campaign sits alongside a range of other actions in our efforts to lower our city-regions carbon foot print, and move towards carbon neutrality. We also aim to reduce energy use, pollution, and support Greater Manchester in becoming a more sustainable place to work, live and visit. We are asking businesses, organisations and individuals to pledge to take action to reduce avoidable single-use plastics across Greater Manchester. With your help we can make it happen.

What information we will collect about you Anyone completing the PlasticFreeGM pledge or submitting a request through our contact form will be asked to provide:

• their organisation (if applicable) – Optional

We may also collect

• your email address and subscription preferences when you sign up to our newsletter.
• how you view our newsletter – for example if you open them and which links you click on.
• website usage information is collected using cookies (please see information on cookies below).

Who will see your data? This data we collect can only be viewed by a small number of authorised people in GMCA. We do this to:

• Gain analysis into the performance of our content and campaigns.
• Ensure our site meets the technical needs of those accessing it.
• Respond to your feedback.
• Provide tools to present content from social media platforms.
• Send our email newsletter to you via Mailchimp if you have subscribed.
• Send information on the PlasticFreeGM campaign if you have consented to do so.

Where your data is stored will depend on the service and maybe stored outside the EEA Further information on this is available from the providers of the tools we use on this website. All of these services comply with the EU-US and Swiss-US Privacy Shield Framework.

• MailChimp – used to collect your details in order to share our newsletters https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/
• Twitter – to embed Tweets from the Twitter social media platform https://twitter.com/en/privacy
• Google Analytics – used to analyse how our site is used and to make sure the site meets the needs of those using it.  https://privacy.google.com/businesses/compliance
• Krystal – used to build the site and store content https://krystal.co.uk/terms

What happens with your data? The GMCA promises to respect and protect the information you share with us. This is important because we are collecting various pieces of information about you that could be used to identify you if the information is used inappropriately, gets lost or is stolen. We want you to be clear about what happens with it and what your rights are – we will not do anything with your data that you wouldn’t reasonably expect. Click here for more information on the GMCA website on data protection.

What will your data be used for? If you agree your data will only be used to email you about the campaign so we can help and support you in reducing your avoidable single-use plastics. GMCA will not share your information with any other organisations for marketing, market research or commercial purposes, and we don’t pass on your details to other websites. If you have consented to receive campaign information, you may opt out at a later date. If you’ve signed up for email alerts, you can unsubscribe or change your settings at any time by selecting the unsubscribe link that appears in every email.

How long will we keep your data for? The GMCA will keep your information for the life of the campaign plus 2 years from the point at which you complete the pledge at which point it will be securely deleted in line with our retention and destruction processes.

What are my rights over my information? We will make sure that our processing of your data is in line with the law (General Data Protection Regulation). You can find further information about this on our general privacy notice and you can find out more about General Data Protection Regulations by visiting www.ico.org.uk.

Can I see my records, change them or stop you keeping my information? You have the right to request access to the information that we have collected about you. This might be if you want us to change or delete it.  You also have the right to request a copy of the data we have collected. You have a right at any time to stop us from contacting you about the PlasticFreeGM campaign. If you would like to make a request to access, review, correct the personal data we have collected about you, or to stop receiving information please email officeofdpo@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk specifying your name and organisation (if applicable).

How can I make a complaint? If you are unhappy with how we are using the information we have about you, please get in contact with our Data Protection Officer to see if they can help. You can also make a complaint to us using the same contact. If you are still not happy then you can also complain to: The Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Security Sending information over the internet is generally not completely secure, and we can’t guarantee the security of your data while it’s in transit. We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure and have procedures and security features in place to keep your data secure once we receive it. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

Cookies Cookies are text files placed on your computer to collect standard internet log information and visitor behaviour information. This information is used to track visitor use of the website and to compile statistical reports on website activity. For further information visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org. You can set your browser not to accept cookies and the above websites tell you how to remove cookies from your browser. However, in a few cases some of our website features may not function as a result.

Other websites Our website contains links to other websites. This privacy policy only applies to this website so when you link to other websites you should read their own privacy policies.

Changes to our privacy policy We keep our privacy policy under regular review and we will place any updates on this web page. This privacy policy was last updated on 21st October 2020.