The 2018/19 Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management annual statistics report has been published today by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
This statistical report is updated annually and contains information on key measurements of local authority collected (LAC) municipal waste for councils and waste management groups in Northern Ireland.
The key points are:
- Northern Ireland’s councils collected 990,233 tonnes of LAC municipal waste in 2018/19. Belfast generated the smallest amount of household waste per capita at 416 kg whilst Antrim & Newtownabbey recorded the largest at 569 kg per capita.
- In 2018/19, 50.0% of household waste was sent for preparing for reuse, dry recycling and composting. This is the highest rate ever recorded for Northern Ireland, and meets the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy target to recycle 50% of household waste by 2020 for the first time.
- The landfill rate for household waste recorded a new low of 28.4% in 2018/19, a fall from 72.3% in 2006/07.
- A fifth of LAC municipal waste arisings were sent for energy recovery in 2018/19 compared to zero 10 years ago.
- There were 153,323 tonnes of biodegradable local authority collected municipal waste (BLACMW) sent to landfill during 2018/19. This was 10.5% lower than the 171,295 tonnes sent during 2017/18, and accounted for a smaller proportion of the permitted annual allowance allocated to councils for sending BLACMW to landfill, 65 per cent during 2018/19 compared to 69% during 2017/18.
Further information
Download the statistical report
Notes to editors:
- This is the tenth issue of the Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics annual report. This annual report contains the final validated figures for 2018/19 which supersede those published in the quarterly reports for the period.
- 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 councils covered by previous reports were reorganised into 11 new councils from 1 April 2015. This is the fourth annual release 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 3 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.
- Follow DAERA on Twitter and Facebook.
- All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or via email.