The Minister claimed the work of his officials and the three district council waste management groups to find viable alternatives to landfill were an excellent example of joined up government.
He was commenting at his first meeting with the Strategic Waste Board - a Ministerially chaired Advisory Body established to oversee and monitor delivery of the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy. Northern Ireland’s three waste management groups (arc21, North West Region Waste Management Group and Southern Waste Management Partnership), the DOE, the Programme Delivery Support Unit (PDSU), NILGA and other key stakeholders meet in this forum to discuss strategy and ongoing implementation.
Mr Wilson said: “How Northern Ireland deals with its waste is an issue that the Executive takes extremely seriously. In order to escape hefty EU fines we must look at alternative methods of dealing with our waste.
“Sending the current level of waste to landfill will soon not be an option, hence after reducing, reusing and recycling we must look at alternative methods of disposing of the residual waste.
“Waste management bodies such as arc21 (which represents 11 councils, including Belfast) are an excellent example of how councils working together with my department and with the support of PDSU can drive policy and value in waste management for those it represents.
“To that end arc21 will shortly be tendering for the largest PPP contract ever to go to market in Northern Ireland to supply and build facilities which will avoid EU fines in respect of landfill.”
The meeting of the Strategic Waste Board was held at the offices of PDSU which was established a little over a year ago by the SIB and DOE to provide planning, procurement and communication support to the three waste management groups.
Following the official opening of the offices by the Minister the head of PDSU, Alan McVicker said: “The Minister realises the importance of implementing Northern Ireland’s Waste Management Strategy and was encouraged at the progress so far by Northern Ireland’s waste management bodies.”
Notes to Editors
- The Strategic Waste Board was established in February 2007 by the Department of the Environment The Board is chaired by the Minister for the Environment and comprises senior representatives from all the key statutory organisations, from both central and local government, with a role to play in delivering Strategy commitments, including representation from the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) and the Strategic Investment Board.
- The key roles envisaged for the Board are to oversee and monitor implementation of the Strategy; to give strategic direction to the development of waste management policy; provide a forum for the discussion of key waste policy issues; and ensure that other government polices and programmes work to support the Strategy’s aims and objectives.
- Northern Ireland’s 26 district councils formed into the three regional waste management groups shortly after publication of the first waste strategy for Northern Ireland in March 2000.
- For media inquiries please contact DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0014 or out of hours call the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned. Also contact Ciaran Cunningham, Communications Manager, PDSU Waste, on 028 9072 7650.
