Poots urges public to 'Rethink Waste' as new campagin website is launched

Environment Minister Edwin Poots, today launched the Department of the Environment’s new waste prevention website, marking the first step in its Rethink Waste campaign.

The Rethink Waste campaign website, aims to raise awareness, encourage best practice and achieve behavioural change among households, and the business, community and education sectors. The campaign seeks to effect a cultural shift towards better waste prevention and resource management and improved environmental quality in Northern Ireland.

It also aims to raise awareness of the simple steps that people can take to help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and improve our environment for future generations.

Commenting at the launch at Bryson Recycling, the Minister said: "Rethinkwasteni.org seeks to communicate the message that waste affects aspects of everyday life in households, businesses, schools and communities right across Northern Ireland.

"We are asking individuals and organisations to rethink their attitudes to waste and to become more aware of simple steps that they can take to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover waste in order to send less of it to landfill.

"Everyone has a part to play if Northern Ireland is to comply with EU targets and avoid infractions."

The website contains carefully tailored information for each target group, and aims to engage the public through user-friendly, interactive features. It will also act as an effective portal and signpost to partner organisations, with a focus on sharing best practice across different sectors.

Notes to editors:

1. The EU Landfill Directive sets increasingly demanding targets for the diversion of biodegradable municipal waste from landfill between now and 2020: 75% of 1995 levels by 2010; 50% of 1995 levels by 2013; 35% of 1995 levels by 2020.
2. The Northern Ireland Landfill Allowances Scheme, introduced in April 2005, sets the maximum amount of biodegradable municipal waste that can be disposed of by councils to landfill in each of the scheme years. Visit Northern Ireland Environment Agency website to view an electronic version of the latest report.
3. All media enquiries should be directed to the Department of the Environment Press Office on 028 90 540003. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.