DAERA Minister Calls For More Action On Household Recycling

Recycling must be an integral part of people's everyday lives regardless of where they are and what they are doing, if we are to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill whilst recycling more, said DAERA Minister Andrew Muir.

The Minister made the comments on a visit to Bryson Recycling in Newtownabbey where he launched a new consultation on how we can improve recycling and waste management to achieve that ambition.

Entitled 'Rethinking Our Resources: Measures for Climate Action and a Circular Economy in NI', the 12-week consultation has 26 proposals for change, including the possibility of recycling a wider variety of materials in kerbside bins, enhancing food waste collections and reducing the amount of residual waste allowed.

"Recycling should be an integral, yet simple, everyday activity that people can carry out whether they are at home, their place of work, educational or healthcare setting, or a social hub,” said Minister Muir. "The proposals within this consultation have been collaboratively designed through a period of extensive engagement with key stakeholders, and we are keen to hear the views of everyone. Whilst there are legislative requirements on us to recycle more and send less to landfill, we know it is the right thing to do. The simple fact is that recycling is good for us, our local economy and the planet."

In Northern Ireland the current household waste recycling rate is 51.1% compared to 10% in 2002. It is hoped the proposals could see the rate increase to 74%.

The proposals, which are aimed at households and the non-household municipal sector, include the implementation of the EU Circular Economy Package which would see legislation for recycling extended to businesses which produce waste which is similar in nature to that from households. Another proposal is to extend Food Waste Regulations to all businesses and increase recycling rates from the non-household municipal sector.