The council made the claim at its second annual Waste Week, which began on June 1 and ran up to World Environment Day.
Belfast recycled just over 4% of its household waste in 2002. As well as the 25% target, the council has set itself a target of recycling 40% of its household waste by 2010.
Events during Waste Week included a business breakfast to encourage companies to manage waste, and a “no bag day” where shoppers in the city centre were handed reusable cotton bags to discourage them from using throwaway plastic ones. A three-day “waste fair” featured a ghost train-style ride through a landfill site – complete with smells – and mock ups of the average supermarket and kitchen.
Belfast’s waste manager Martin Doherty said: “The European Commission has set us the target of recycling 25% of our household waste products by the year 2005. The council is determined to meet this target, and already has taken huge strides forward in the past year.”
The council's Waste Week coincided with the first anniversary of its blue bin household paper recycling scheme. The blue bin service has been rolled out across the city, while three recycling centres have been opened in the last year. A fourth centre is now in development, Mr Doherty said.
Computer technology is being used to monitor recycling rates across the city. Belfast said it is the only system of its type in the UK and enables the council to analyse the recycling rates of individual streets.
Subscribe for free