Figures released by Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) on 28 April show that waste volumes decreased 244,715 tonnes in this period, while its recycling rate increased slightly to 47.7%, 0.4% up from the previous year.
On the disposal front, energy recovery accounted for 20.3% and 30% went to landfill. “The remaining 2% unaccounted for is likely to involve moisture and or gaseous losses,” the document said.
In comparison to October to December 2020, the energy recovery rate decreased by 6.1% and the landfill rate increased by 6.7%.
The data is published by the government on a quarterly basis.
Restrictions
The report explained that during the same period in 2020, Covid-19 restrictions contributed to the highest tonnage of waste ever collected during this quarter, with many people continuing to work from home.
It stated: “This peak contributed to the reduction in waste arisings recorded during October to December 2021.”
A decrease in total waste arisings in October to December 2021 was reported by all councils, with the largest decrease recorded in Ards & North Down at 9.1%.
Recycling
There were 116,633 tonnes of waste sent for preparing for reuse, dry recycling and composting between October and December 2021, giving a 47.7% recycling rate.
For household waste only, the recycling rate was 48.4% for this quarter, only slightly higher than in 2020, the figures showed. The proportion of household waste sent for dry recycling made up 23.8%, composting 24.4% and preparing for reuse 0.2%, the report added.
Energy recovery
It continued that between October and December 2021, 49,665 tonnes of waste was sent for energy recovery. The waste energy recovery rate of 20.3% was lower than in 2020, which was at 26.4%.
Landfill
According to the data, the quantity of local authority collected municipal waste sent to landfill increased by 22.9%.
From 59,733 tonnes during October to December 2020 to 73,438 tonnes between October and December 2021. The quarterly landfill rate was 30%, 6.7% high than during the same quarter in 2020.
As outlined below however, there is usually a rise in landfill tonnages in the fourth quarter. However, the rise last year was bigger than in previous years.
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