Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics released

The 2022/23 Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management annual statistics report has been published today by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

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. 

Download the report

The key points are:

• Northern Ireland’s councils collected 971,936 tonnes of waste during 2022/23 which was 6.1% lower than the amount collected in 2021/22. During 2022/23, 49.7% of waste collected by councils was sent for recycling. The same recycling rate was reported in 2021/22.
• The landfill rate for waste collected by councils was 23.1% in 2022/23, a fall from 74.0% in 2006/07 and 24.9% in 2021/22.
• A quarter (25.4%) of waste arisings were sent for energy recovery in 2022/23. This compares to 23.2% in 2021/22 and 0.4% in 2009/10.
• Household waste accounted for 87.1% of all local authority collected waste during 2022/23. The recycling rate for household waste was 50.7% whilst the landfill rate for household waste was 22.4%.
• Belfast generated the smallest amount of household waste per capita at 388 kg whilst Antrim & Newtownabbey recorded the largest at 519 kg per capita.
• There were 121,925 tonnes of biodegradable waste sent to landfill during 2022/23, a decrease of 13.8% from the quantity reported in 2021/22 (141,390 tonnes).

Notes to editors: 

1. This is the fourteenth issue of the Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics annual report. This annual report contains the final validated figures for 2022/23 which supersede those published in the quarterly reports for the period.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Follow DAERA on X/ formerly called Twitter and Facebook.

7. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9052 4619.

8. 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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