Poots calls on businesses to go green during Recycle Week

Environment Minister Edwin Poots marked the start of Recycle Week by calling on businesses to recognise the potential opportunities which recycling presents to boost the economy.

The Minister highlighted his recent visit to Crumlin-based Cherry Polymers Plastic Recycling - one of the largest plastic bottle sorting plants both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Poots said: "The recycling sector is a vitally important part of the Northern Ireland economy. In 2007 the sector accounted for around 1,000 jobs with turnover of over £180million.

“Companies like Cherry Polymers are excellent role models by turning what others perceive as rubbish into valuable products. This has generated a number of local jobs and boosted investment in the economy. It also delivers clear environmental benefits by reducing the waste going to landfill.

“This assists every one of us, with landfill taxes increasing, every tonne of waste that we divert from landfill is essentially money in the ratepayer’s pocket.”

The Minister continued: "Recycling rates have continued to improve in Northern Ireland. There is no doubt that the work and services of companies like Cherry Polymers have all contributed by ensuring that there is a sustainable end market for these materials. I am confident that we can all increase our efforts through imaginative and innovative solutions to make recycling economically viable.

“Across the globe the potential opportunities presented by the green economy are increasingly recognised. I cannot emphasis enough, particularly during Recycle Week, that we must ensure that Northern Ireland is geared up to maximise the benefits from these opportunities.”

To find out more about how you can recycle more at work, at home or in school log on to the rethink website

Notes to editors:

1. Recycle Week, an annual campaign by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), takes place from 21- 27 June 2010.
2. The recycling sector is a highly productive sector which, in 2007, had a Gross Value Added per head of approximately £64,000. This is nearly double the Northern Ireland average of around £34,000 and significantly above that for the manufacturing sector as a whole which is around £45,000.
3. It is estimated that plastics account for 114,000 tonnes of total municipal waste arisings in Northern Ireland each year of which 65,000 tonnes are dense plastics and the remainder plastic film. Most plastic waste is due to plastic packaging. Approximately 10,000 tonnes of plastic are currently recycled. Whilst all plastics can be recycled the extent to which they are depends on economic and logistical factors.
4. Cherry Polymers has a current turnover of £2million with 15 employees, this is expected to increase to £6.5million and 32 employees by 2012 as a result of recent expansion.
5. Cherry Polymers sister company, Cherry Drainage Pipes, which form the Cherry Plastics Group, has developed a process to use recovered plastic involving storm water and surface drainage pipes. This project is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and could potentially redirect over 25,000 tonnes per annum of waste plastic from landfill.
6. All media enquiries should be directed to the Department of the Environment Press Office on 028 9054 0003. Out of office hours, please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.