Northern Ireland has achieved a municipal recycling and composting rate of 50% for the first time in an individual quarter, according to the latest waste figures published this week.
The statistics are the first to be published by the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DAERA) since new regulations on separate collection of food waste were introduced in April. They follow on from the achievement of an overall 42.2% recycling and composting rate in 2016 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Philip McMurray from DAERA pictured with pupils and teacher Ms Staniforth from Fairview Primary School, Ballyclare, Co.Antrim, as he raised awareness on food waste recycling from Halloween parties.
The 50% recycling rate –achieved between April and June this year – is an upturn on the 46.4% rate achieved over the same period in 2016.
The figures suggest that Northern Ireland’s councils collected 263,167 tonnes of municipal waste between April and June 2017, similar to the 262,883 tonnes collected during the same three months of 2016. Household waste accounts for 89.2% of total LAC municipal waste, the data indicates.
The figures also suggest that Northern Ireland’s waste to landfill is falling, but still represents around 32% of total waste, whilst 17.6% was sent to energy from waste facilities.
According to the data, the proportion of household waste sent for reuse was 0.2%, dry recycling made up 22.1% and composting was 27.8%. During April to June 2016, the equivalent rate for reuse was 0.1% whilst the dry recycling and composting rates were 21.7% and 24.6% respectively.
In a statement DAERA said: “through the co-operation of households, the department expects to see sustained improvements in recycling in the coming months and years”.
Philip McMurray, head of recycling policy at DAERA, added: “I am delighted to see this improvement in recycling rates in the latest Northern Ireland recycling statistics and I am grateful to local councils and especially to householders for their continued efforts.”
Source: DAERA figures
Food waste
Since 1st April, councils have had to provide a separate container for food waste, and any business generating more than 5 kg of food waste must have a separate food waste collection.
DAERA said that although some areas in Northern Ireland do not yet have a kerbside food collection service, councils aim to provide this as soon as possible.
Mr McMurray said: “Recycling your food waste can seem strange at first but for most people it soon becomes second nature. And yet such a simple change can make a huge difference.
“Keeping food waste out of landfill not only helps prevent climate change, but the waste can be turned into a valuable resource for our parks and allotments and the process has already created jobs.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
