‘Recycle NI’ was announced at a launch event at Stormont. The founders of the organisation said it will now work with decision makers and political representatives to achieve challenges and “positive change” for its members.
Glyn Roberts of the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has been appointed as the independent chair of the new body. Speaking at the launch, he said: “Recycle NI will have a strong policy focus and we will ensure that we will bring solutions to government, rather than problems.”
Mr Roberts continued: “We believe that achieving high quality recycling outcomes and meeting the requirements of the circular economy is the responsibility of all players in the supply chain, including the consumer.
“As the current programme for government rightly says, treating waste as a resource with a value, rather than something simply to be disposed of, can result in a society that uses finite natural resources more efficiently. It can help ensure that our economy is more competitive, creating opportunities for investment and job creation through sustainable production and resource efficiency.”
Ready
And, with Northern Ireland currently not having its own government, Mr Roberts said: “We also want to be ready to engage with a restored Executive and Assembly and ensure they hit the ground running with policy priorities which support the sector.”
The launch event also heard from Owen Lyttle, DAERA head of waste policy, who said: “The waste and resource management sector within Northern Ireland already makes an important contribution to the local economy. However, to realise the full economic potential of recycling and the circular economy, and to adapt to today’s global and local challenges, the sector needs to be fully engaged with decision-makers.
“The founding of Recycle NI, the sector’s new industry group, is therefore important. It provides the sector with a unified local voice to engage and collaborate with stakeholders, including government policy makers, which should result in benefit for the industry, the economy and the environment.”
Common voice
A welcome for the new body also came from the private waste sector, Joseph Doherty, managing director of Regen Waste, commented: “Recycle NI will help pull together all of our waste operators to help share one common voice for the sector.”
He added: “Northern Ireland is definitely ready for the changes ahead. There is much more innovation to come as well as helping councils to reduce more waste from going to landfill.”
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