Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics released

Provisional Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics for January to March 2021 have been published today by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

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.  This is the fourth quarterly waste report to include data from a period when measures and advice were implemented in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The key points are:

• Northern Ireland’s councils collected 250,228 tonnes of waste during January to March 2021 which was 11.0 per cent higher than the same three months in 2020.
• During January to March 2021, 46.7 per cent of waste collected by councils was sent for recycling, 1.3 per cent higher than the recycling rate for January to March 2020.
• The landfill rate for waste collected by councils was 25.0 per cent in January to March 2021, a fall from 76.5 per cent in January to March 2007, and similar to the 24.8 per cent recorded during January to March 2020.
• More than a quarter (25.5 per cent) of waste arisings were sent for energy recovery in January to March 2021, compared to 26.9 per cent in January to March 2020, and 1.2 per cent during the same quarter in 2010.
• Household waste accounted for 89.3 per cent of all waste collected during this period.
• The recycling rate for household waste was 46.7 per cent, up from 46.0 per cent in January to March 2020. The landfill rate for household waste was 25.2 per cent, an increase from 24.7 per cent compared to the same quarter last year.

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 fourth report for the 2020/21 financial year covering the period January to March 2021. 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 2020/21 is scheduled for November 2021.
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, www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/dard-statistics-charter-and-pre-release-access-statements. 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 at: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk. ​​​
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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