The Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy / Waste Management Plan
Over the last two decades Waste Management Strategies have been published on a 6-year cycle to fulfil DAERA’s legal obligations to publish a Waste Management Plan for Northern Ireland, as set out in the Waste & Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997. In doing so these have set the actions and targets and provided the policy landscape how waste is managed in NI.
The last Northern Ireland Waste Management strategy was published in October 2013 with a new Strategy required in 2019. However, due to EU Exit pressures a Waste Management Plan was published instead. This was an interim measure to fulfil the Department’s strict legal obligations until the publication of a new Strategy. Following this the Environmental Improvement Plan committed to publishing a new Waste Management Strategy.
A closure report for the 2013 Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy was published on 22 June 2022 and the development of a new strategy has been ongoing since to develop a draft for consultation.
The aim of the new strategy is to move waste up the hierarchy, retain as much of our valuable resources as possible within NI and future proof waste management to aid embedding the Circular Economy and achieving Net Zero by 2050.
Type of Change
Statutory
Affected Stakeholders
- Central Government
- Local Government
- Waste Management Operators
- Waste Reprocessors
- Landfill Operators
- Citizens
Changes
- Develop and implement a new 6-year Waste Management Strategy fulfilling the requirements within the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (as amended).
- Set out several targets, actions, and objectives for the sector aimed at improving and futureproofing waste management in NI as well as reducing the impact our waste has on our environment.
Status
The development of a new Waste Management Strategy was put on hold due to a shift in priorities for the Waste Strategy Team.
The Resources & Waste Strategy Team assumed responsibility for the Waste Management Strategy in September 2023 and the expertise of the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) was enlisted to accelerate the development of the Strategy.
DAERA have reviewed the 2019 Waste Management Plan and incorporated its findings into the new draft Waste Management Strategy.
The draft of the Waste Management Strategy has been published for a 16-week consultation which closes on 6 May 2026.
Once the consultation closes, the results will be analysed and will inform the final draft of the Waste Management Strategy ready for Ministerial consideration.
Expected Timeline
The consultation closes on 6 May 2026.