Northern Irish councils given 10 million for waste plans

The grant represents 42% of the total estimated expenditure needed to implement councils' Waste Management Plans in 2003-04. The grant will be distributed equally to district councils to meet the requirements of the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy.

The money will benefit all 26 councils in Northern Ireland, who will receive funding individually or collectively within the three council partnership groups.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of the Environment, Ms Smith said: “I am delighted to make these funds available to councils to assist the implementation of their Waste Management Plans.”

She added: “It is vitally important that we continue to make progress towards meeting the recycling targets contained in the Waste Management Strategy. We have set challenging targets. The substantially increased level of funding I have announced today will help meet costs of infrastructure to enable us all to meet these targets.”

The funding to support local authorities' waste plans has increased significantly since it was established in 2001-02. Last year, 3.85 million was made available and in 2001-02 the amount was 2.2million. The 10 million available for 2003-04 represents a 260% on last year's grant.

“We are already seeing progress in our fight against waste. But success can only come if there is partnership and commitment from government, district councils and the general public. Working together we can all reduce, re-use and recycle,” said Ms Smith.

Welcomed

The Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) and its Northern Ireland Strategic Governmental Waste Partnership welcomed the funding.

Ald George Ennis, of Ards borough council and chair of the waste partnership, said: “NILGA, on behalf of the 26 district councils, applaud the injection of financial support to assist the development of an infrastructure for waste in Northern Ireland. The grant aid available has increased dramatically from previous years, and we are pleased that a level has now been reached, which will assist local government in achieving its aims with regard to recycling.”

He added: “The primary aim of the Waste Management Strategy for Northern Ireland was to provide a framework in which waste could be managed more effectively to minimise or avoid adverse impacts on the environment or public health. This grant is a step in the right direction towards achieving those outcomes.”