Environment minister Edwin Poots has called on all Northern Irish residents to play their part in helping to reduce waste as part of this week's European Week of Waste Reduction.
Although recycling is a great way to divert waste from landfill, it is far more beneficial for the environment if we avoid creating it in the first place
Edwin Poots, environment minister, Northern Ireland
Mr Poots welcomed efforts undertaken by Belfast city council, which kicked off Northern Ireland's involvement in the campaign, known as EWWR, with a launch event at the Corn Market in Belfast city centre on Saturday (November 20).
Belfast is one of six UK regions to have taken part in the campaign in order to promote waste reduction between November 20 and November 28 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Initiatives are set to take place in fifteen countries across Europe over the course of the week.
In total, 40 organisations have signed up to the campaign in Northern Ireland, with around 90 waste reduction initiatives set to take place across the country in order to raise awareness and promote waste prevention.
Commenting, Mr Poots called on residents to take “one small step” towards reducing waste generation in Northern Ireland and he welcomed its involvement in the Europe-wide event.
He said: “I would urge everyone – whether in school, at work, in the community or at home to do just one thing to prevent waste. It could be as simple as bringing your own shopping bags, donating unwanted clothes to your local charity shop or bringing your water in a reusable bottle to school or the office.”
During the EWWR, the Department of Environment (DOE) will be launching ‘Love Food, Hate Waste' cookery demonstration projects with BBC chef Paula McIntyre. The DOE will be holding two events on Friday (November 26) and Saturday (November 27) at the Magherafelt speciality Christmas market in Magherafelt in County Londonderry.
Rethink Waste
Mr Poots also praised ongoing efforts of the Northern Irish executive's Rethink Waste campaign – which was launched in June 2010 to make grant funding available to local authorities for recycling and reuse schemes (see letsrecycle.com story).
The campaign was given a funding boost in September bringing its total allocation to over £5 million (see letsrecycle.com story).
Mr Poots said: “Although recycling is a great way to divert waste from landfill, it is far more beneficial for the environment if we avoid creating it in the first place.
“Continuing to send waste to landfill also means that we could face huge fines which will ultimately add to our rates bills. This is why I am urging everyone to participate in EWWR by taking one simple waste reduction step.”
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