Recycling boost for Northern Ireland

Further funding of £2 million is being provided for projects in Northern Ireland to reduce waste to landfill through recycling or reuse.


This brings the funding total for such projects to over £6 million this year.

The money is allocated through Northern Ireland’s Department of Environment’s Rethink Waste fund.

Environment minister, Edwin Poots, said: “The fact that a third round of funding has been secured for recycling projects in the current financial climate acknowledges that waste, when handled correctly, can be a crucial asset for the Northern Ireland economy.

“Much progress has been made in terms of recycling. This is why I am convinced that there is potential to increase recycling rates further and this funding should assist.”

It is estimated that the 41 successful projects that were offered funding through rounds one and two of the Rethink Waste fund will divert 28,500 tonnes of waste from landfill each year.

The funding is available for capital costs such as collection vehicles, bins, improvements to amenity sites or household recycling centres.

Projects to improve recycling facilities have included purchasing roll on roll off skips and compactors for recycling centres and brown bin services for food and garden waste.

Northern Ireland is required to meet the European statutory household waste recycling target of 50% by 2020. The most recent data indicates that it is currently recycling 35.6% of household waste.
Alison Brown

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