Minister applauds decrease in landfill
Thursday, 10 December 2009Figures released today by Environment Minister Edwin Poots show an annual 7% decrease in biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) being sent to landfill by Councils in Northern Ireland.
The 2008/09 Municipal Waste Management and Northern Ireland Landfill Allowance Scheme (NILAS) Reports also indicate a 4.1% decrease in municipal waste generated in 2008/09 compared to last year.
Another key finding was that the household waste recycling rate had risen to 34.4%, a 2.5% annual increase, maintaining the upward trend of the last three years. These figures indicate that Northern Ireland is currently on track to meet the recycling and composting targets of at least 35% of household waste by 2010.
Minister Poots welcomed the results. 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 and highest levels respectively.
“This indicates that Northern Ireland is on course to meet next year’s challenging targets of no more than 470,000 tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled and a household waste recycling rate of at least 35%.”
The reports also highlight that the amount of household waste generated decreased by 5.2% compared to the previous period. Approximately 66% of this waste was landfilled whilst 21% was recovered by recycling and the remaining 13% by composting.
The Minister continued: “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.
“It continues to concern me that on average each and every person in Northern Ireland still generates almost ½ tonne of household waste per year, however, I know that this can change and that together we will make a difference to the environment in the years ahead.”
Notes to editors:
1. The Municipal Waste Management and Northern Ireland Landfill Allowance Scheme (NILAS) Reports are issued annually and contain a range of waste management data and analyses for the period April 2008 – Mar 2009.
2. There are nine key performance indicators covered in the report, covering municipal waste, household waste and biodegradable municipal waste. The indicators have been calculated from the WasteDataFlow (WDF) system, which is used by all UK local authorities to report municipal waste.
3. 2008/09 values for Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
· KPI (a) 34.4% of Household waste sent for recycling (inc. composting)
· KPI (b) 65.8% of Household waste landfilled
· KPI (e) 31.6% of Municipal waste sent for recycling (inc. composting)
· KPI (f) 68.3% of Municipal waste landfilled
· KPI (g) 475,080 tonnes of Biodegradable Municipal waste landfilled
· KPI (h) 1.217 tonnes of Household waste generated per household
· KPI (j) 1,017,215 tonnes of Municipal waste generated
· KPI (n) 4.1% decrease in Municipal waste generated
· KPI (p) 0.496 tonnes of Household waste generated per person
4. Media enquiries should be directed to the DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0003. Out of office hours, please contact the duty press officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned
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