Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics released

Provisional Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics for January to March 2017 have been published today by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

This statistical report is updated quarterly and contains information on key measurements of local authority collected (LAC) municipal waste for councils and waste management groups in Northern Ireland. It is available on the DAERA website.

The key points are:

• Northern Ireland’s councils collected 226,883 tonnes of LAC municipal waste between January and March 2017. This was similar to the 227,615 tonnes collected during the same three months of 2016.  Household waste accounts for 89.1% of total LAC municipal waste.  Newry, Mourne & Down generated the smallest quantity of household waste per person at 101kg whilst the largest quantity per person was recorded in Antrim & Newtownabbey at 126kg.   
• The household waste preparing for reuse, dry recycling and composting rate was 39.7% between January and March 2017, an increase on the 38.2% recorded during the same three months of 2016. At council level, rates varied from 34.2% in Lisburn & Castlereagh to 45.2% in both Mid Ulster and Fermanagh & Omagh.
• The LAC municipal waste energy recovery rate was 20.6%, similar to the 21.1% recorded in the same quarter last year. The highest rate was recorded in Newry, Mourne & Down at 56.1% and the lowest was 3.5% in Fermanagh & Omagh.
• The latest quarterly landfill rate for household waste was 39.2%, a further reduction on the 40.4% recorded during the same three months of 2016. There were 54,633 tonnes of BLACMW sent to landfill between January and March 2017. This was 3.5% lower than the 56,605 tonnes sent between the same three months of 2016. However, it did account for a similar proportion of the annual allowance, 20.8% between January and March 2017 compared to 20.4% in the equivalent quarter of 2016. 

Further Information:

The statistical report containing more detail can be accessed via the DAERA website.

Notes to editors: 

1. This is the latest in a regular series of quarterly Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics report and is the fourth report for the 2016/17 financial year covering the period January to March 2017. 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 2016/17 is scheduled for November 2017.

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 five main sections in the report which covers local authority collected municipal waste and, where appropriate, household waste: arisings; reuse, dry recycling, composting; energy recovery; landfill; and biodegradable landfill.

5. The 26 district councils covered by previous reports were reorganised into 11 new councils from 1 April 2015. This is the eighth release of waste data collected on an 11 council basis. During this period in Northern Ireland 8 of the 11 district councils were split into two Waste Management Groups with three unaffiliated to any group.

• 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. 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 us on Twitter @daera_ni.

8. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or email DAERA Press Office. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

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