Provisional Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics for January to March 2016 have been published today by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
This statistical report is updated quarterly and contains information on key measurements of local authority collected (LAC) municipal waste for councils and waste management groups in Northern Ireland. It is available on the DAERA website.
The key points are:
- Northern Ireland’s councils collected 227,238 tonnes of LAC municipal waste between January and March 2016.This was a 4.7% increase on the 217,138 tonnes collected during the same three months of 2015 and was the third consecutive quarter 4 increase. Household waste accounts for 89.1% of total LAC municipal waste. Belfast generated the smallest quantity of household waste per person at 101kg whilst the largest was recorded in Ards & North Down at 126kg per person.
- The household waste preparing for reuse, dry recycling and composting rate was 38.3% between January and March 2016.This was an increase on the 37.4% recorded during the same three months of 2015. At council level, rates varied from 44.2% in Antrim & Newtownabbey and Mid Ulster to 32.9% in Causeway Coast & Glens.
- Over one-fifth (21.1%) of LAC municipal waste was sent for energy recovery. This rate was 5.5 percentage points higher than the 15.6% sent during the same three months of 2015. The highest rate was recorded in Derry City & Strabane at 44.8% while the lowest rate was 1.4% in Fermanagh & Omagh.
- The household waste landfill rate was 40.3%, a notable reduction on the 47.0% recorded during the same three months of 2015. There were 56,440 tonnes of Biodegradable LAC Municipal waste sent to landfill between January and March 2016. This was 9.8% lower than the 62,598 tonnes sent between the same three months of 2015 and accounted for less of the annual allowance, 20.4% between January and March 2016 compared to 21.5% in the equivalent quarter of 2015.
Further Information
The statistical report containing more detail can be accessed via the DAERA website.
Notes to editors:
- This is the latest in a regular series of quarterly Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics report and is the fourth report for the 2015/16 financial year covering the period January to March 2016. Current and previous reports dating back to 2009/10 can be access from the DAERA website. The series will continue to be updated on a quarterly basis.
- All figures are provisional until the final end-year validation has been completed. An annual report with fully validated figures for 2015/16 is scheduled for 1 December 2016.
- The data in this report are based on returns made to WasteDataFlow, which is a web based system used by all UK local authorities to report LAC municipal waste.
- There are five main sections in the report which covers local authority collected municipal waste and, where appropriate, household waste: arisings; reuse, dry recycling, composting; energy recovery; landfill; and biodegradable landfill.
- The 26 district councils covered by previous reports were reorganised into 11 new councils from 1 April 2015. This is the fourth release of waste data collected on an 11 council basis. During this period in Northern Ireland 8 of the 11 district councils were split into two Waste Management Groups with three unaffiliated to any group. arc21: Antrim & Newtownabbey; Ards & North Down, Belfast, Lisburn & Castlereagh; Mid & East Antrim; Newry, Mourne & Down. North West Regional Waste Management Group: Causeway Coast & Glens; Derry City & Strabane.
- These statistics are released according to the Statement of Compliance with the Pre-release access to Official Statistics Order (NI) 2009. National Statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.
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