Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics released

Provisional Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics for January to March 2023 have been published today by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

This statistical report is updated quarterly and contains provisional 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 228,557 tonnes of waste during January to March 2023, similar to the 229,387 tonnes collected during January to March 2022.
• During January to March 2023, 45.7% of waste collected by councils was sent for recycling, similar to the recycling rate recorded for January to March 2022.
• The landfill rate for waste collected by councils was 24.1% in January to March 2023, a fall from both 75.5% in January to March 2007 and 25.2% recorded during January to March 2022.
• Over a quarter (28.3%) of waste arisings were sent for energy recovery in January to March 2023 which was higher than the 27.5% reported in January to March 2022. In the longer term, energy recovery rates have increased from 1.2%  recorded during January to March 2010.
• Household waste accounted for 87.0% of all Local Authority collected (LAC) waste during this period.
• The recycling rate for household waste was 46.2% in January to March 2023, similar to the rate recorded in January to March 2022. The landfill rate for household waste was 23.5%, which was lower than the landfill rate of 25.0% recorded in January to March 2022.

Download the report

Notes to editors: 

1. This is the latest in a regular series of quarterly Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics reports and is the final report for the 2022/23 financial year covering the period January to March 2023. Current and previous reports dating back to 2009/10 can be accessed from the DAERA website. The series will continue to be updated on a quarterly basis.
2. All figures are provisional until the final end-year validation has been completed. An annual report with fully validated figures for 2022/23 is scheduled for November 2023.
3. 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.
4. There are four main sections in the report which covers local authority collected municipal waste and, where appropriate, household waste: arisings; reuse, dry recycling, composting; energy recovery; and landfill.
5. With the reform of local government in Northern Ireland 8 of the 11 district councils were split into two Waste Management Groups with 3 unaffiliated to any group as follows:
   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.
6. 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.
7. Follow DAERA on Twitter and Facebook.
8. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or phone 02890 524619.
9. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours’ service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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