We need to aim even higher, not just for the benefit of our environment but for that of future generations
Edwin Poots
The performance, which represents a 2.5% increase compared to 2007/08, was revealed yesterday (December 10) in a municipal waste management document which was published alongside the country's latest annual ‘Municipal Waste Management and Northern Ireland Landfill Allowance Scheme (NILAS)' report.
The report contained a list of key indicators calculated from the government's WasteDataFlow database, which is used by all councils to report municipal waste.
It also showed that 31.6% of municipal waste was recycled and composted in 2008/09 and there was a 4.1% fall in the amount of municipal waste generated.
Overall, 1,017,215 tonnes of municipal waste was created, representing a 4.1% decrease, with 68.3% of this landfilled. There was a 7% decrease in the amount of municipal waste generated compared to 2007/08.
The NILAS report also showed that 26 district councils in Northern Ireland achieved their 2008/09 landfill allowance obligations.
Efforts
The progress was welcomed by Northern Ireland's environment minister Edwin Poots, who praised councils and residents for their efforts.
He said: “Whilst we are only three years into the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy (2006-2020), these results are very encouraging. Both biodegradable municipal waste generated and household waste recycling are at their lowest levels respectively.”
However, with Northern Ireland residents each still generating almost half a tonne of household waste each a year, Mr Poots expressed “concern”.
Northern Ireland also still lags behind other parts of the UK in its recycling and composting performance – with Wales and England recently reporting a 36.3% and 37.6% household waste recycling and composting rate for 2008/09 respectively (see letsrecycle.com story).
The minister said: “I want to thank everyone involved in this endeavour from the householder to the waste management groups, however we need to aim even higher, not just for the benefit of our environment but for that of future generations.”
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