Recycling - Circular Economy Package (CEP) Municipal Waste Recycling Targets

Topics:

New requirements and targets set by the Waste and Contaminated Land Order (as amended) and the Climate Change Act (NI) mean more ambition and greater action is needed to improve the quality and quantity of what we recycle. The EU Circular Economy Package (CEP), to which the UK had committed prior to EU Exit, was transposed into legislation in December 2020. This amended the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 and introduced, amongst a range of measures, a municipal recycling rate target of 65%, and less than 10% landfill, by 2035. A new definition of ‘municipal’ waste has been enshrined into law, bringing into scope around 57,000 businesses which produce waste which is similar in nature to that which is produced from households. The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 also contains a requirement of at least 70% of waste to be recycled by 2030.

 

Type of Change

A proposed mix of Statutory and Non-Statutory.

Affected Stakeholders

  • Citizens
  • Non-Household Municipal Waste producing Organisations (Businesses etc)
  • Waste management companies (Sorters, reprocessors etc)
  • Local councils

Changes

  • A range of proposals have been developed and included in a consultation document titled, Rethinking Our Resources: Measures for Climate Action and a Circular Economy in NI.
  • The consultation includes 26 proposals for household and non-household waste management to help NI achieve its statutory requirements.
  • The consultation document was published on the DAERA website on 7 March 2024 and will close for responses at 5pm on 30 May 2024.
  • Future changes will be considered based on responses to the consultation and subject to necessary Ministerial approval.

Status

Rethinking Our Resources: Measures for Climate Action and a Circular Economy in NI was published on the DAERA website on 7 March 2024 and will close for responses at 5pm on 30 May 2024.

Expected Timeline

Subject to the outcome of the consultation and Ministerial approval, implementation of planned change is to commence in 2025.

Related articles

Back to top