The amount of residual waste collected by local authorities (LAs) in Northern Ireland has fallen, but so have recycling rates, according to a report published today (22 October) by the Department of the Environment Northern Ireland (DOENI)

The figures cover the period from April to June 2015, and are compared to the corresponding quarterly period in 2014.

The amount of LA-collected (LAC) municipal waste fell by 3,607 tonnes in the third quarter of 2014. This figure, based on provisional data, represents a 1.4 per cent reduction from 257,614 tonnes in same quarter in 2014 to 254,007 tonnes in 2015.

Of this, 89 per cent consisted of household waste, with the remaining 11 per cent being non-household waste. This was the first quarter-on-quarter decrease in LAC municipal arisings in two years.

Previously, reports from DOENI covered the 26 district councils, but these were reorganised into 11 new councils in April this year, meaning that a direct comparison of council results between this year and previous years is not possible. However, results within Northern Ireland and historical comparisons can still be made.

Little change in recycling rates

Despite residual waste generation falling, Northern Ireland has seen little change in other areas of recycling. The rate of household waste preparing for reuse, recycling and composting fell slightly: from 45.2 per cent in this quarter to 44.9 per cent in the equivalent months last year.

This dip follows trends from previous quarters in 2014/15 in Northern Ireland, which saw recycling rates reaching a near standstill.

The percentage of waste being sent to landfill (as well as the quantity) has also fallen slightly, with 40.1 per cent of waste winding up in landfill in the first quarter of 2014/15, compared to 40.2 per cent in the same period last year. The lowest household landfill rate was just over half the average national rate at 21.4 per cent in Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon, while the highest rate was recorded in Fermanagh & Omagh with 51.2 per cent. Accounting for these figures, the report states that Landfill Tax for household waste continues to be the main driver for local authorities to reduce landfill.

There was, however, a nearly three per cent increase of biodegradable LAC municipal waste sent to landfill between this quarter and last year’s equivalent: 55,301 tonnes, compared to last year’s 53,736 tonnes. This equates to one-fifth of the Northern Ireland Landfill Allowance Scheme allocation for 2015/16.

The LAC municipal waste energy recovery rate increased only a little from last year, rising less than one per cent, from 13.8 per cent to 14.6 per cent. The highest LAC municipal waste energy recovery rates were recorded in Derry City & Strabane (28.7 per cent) while the lowest rate was only 1.3 per cent, recorded in Fermanagh & Omagh.

Reducing landfill waste a ‘win-win scenario’ for residents and environment

Commenting on the results published in the report, Environment Minister Mark H Durkan, said: “It is very welcome that less waste is going to landfill. Every single tonne of waste we recover ensures that our new councils can use those savings to focus on the needs and concerns of their residents.

“Furthermore, it reduces the long-term impact on the environment by reducing greenhouse gas and leachate emissions – a win-win scenario.”

Read the full ‘Northern Ireland Local Authority Collected Municipal Waste Management Statistics’ report