Diverting Biodegradable Waste from Landfill
This policy area involves assessing the feasibility of proposals for potential bans or restrictions on biodegradable waste being disposed of in landfill sites in Northern Ireland. The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) sets a target that at least 70% of waste is recycled and also that DAERA seeks the advice of the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) on the setting of emissions reductions targets.
The CCC recommended a ban on key biodegradable wastes, across municipal and non-municipal sectors and stated that such a ban would require waste prevention, re-use and recycling efforts (including AD and composting) to be significantly ramped-up and should not be met by increased waste exports or a significant increase in EfW emissions.
The Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997 (WCLO) introduced a 10% cap on the amount of waste going to landfill by 2035 and the Waste (Circular Economy) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 states that DAERA’s waste management plan must contain measures to encourage the recycling, including composting and digestion, of bio-waste.
Type of Change
- Will possibly require legislation to implement
Affected Stakeholders
- Householders, businesses, or organisations that produce biodegradable waste.
- Local Authorities/Councils & Waste Management Groups
- Landfill site operators
- Waste processors
Changes
This policy signals a shift toward more impactful waste‑management interventions by targeting biodegradable waste—the largest contributor to methane emissions from landfill—and driving a substantial reduction in the overall volumes landfilled each year. Recent council data shows progress, with 71,828 tonnes of biodegradable waste sent to landfill in 2024/25 (50.6% of all landfilled waste), down from 95,425 tonnes (51.9%) the previous year.
Status
- In July 2023 DAERA established a Biodegradable Waste to Landfill Stakeholder Advisory Group to work alongside WRAP in conducting a feasibility study. Throughout 2023, a series of meetings were held with key stakeholders. As the sector is rapidly evolving, DAERA continues to engage regularly with stakeholders.
- DAERA have produced a response to The Rethinking our Resources: Measures for Climate Action and a Circular Economy in NI consultation which included several proposals addressing the separate collection and recycling of biodegradable waste. This is currently being considered.
Expected Timeline
- DAERA are currently drafting a public consultation, subject to the necessary approvals, to establish if a policy intervention along the lines of the CCC recommendations would be suitable for Northern Ireland and if so, how this might be implemented.
- The public consultation is now expected to be completed in 2026.