Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics released

Date published: 26 October 2017

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

DARD statistics

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.

Download the Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics April to June 2017 quarterly report.

The key points are:

  • Northern Ireland’s councils collected 263,167 tonnes of LAC municipal waste between April and June 2017, similar to the 262,883 tonnes collected during the same three months of 2016. Household waste accounts for 89.2% of total LAC municipal waste. Newry, Mourne & Down generated the smallest quantity of household waste per person at 111kg, whilst the largest quantity per person was recorded in Antrim & Newtownabbey at 147kg.
  • The household waste preparing for reuse, dry recycling and composting rate was 50% between April and June 2017, an increase on the 46.4% recorded during the same three months of 2016. At council level, rates varied from 43.2% in Derry City & Strabane to 58.3% in Mid Ulster. 
  • The LAC municipal waste energy recovery rate was 17.6%, an increase of 1.6 percentage points on the April to June 2016 rate of 16%. The highest rate was recorded in Newry, Mourne & Down at 45.7% and the lowest was 3.1% in Fermanagh & Omagh.
  • The latest quarterly landfill rate for household waste was 32.2%, a further reduction on the 37% recorded during the same three months of 2016. There were 43,136 tonnes of BLACMW sent to landfill between April and June 2017. This was 17.7% lower than the 52,400 tonnes sent between the same three months of 2016. It also accounted for a smaller proportion of the annual allowance, 17.4% between April and June 2017 compared to 19.9% 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 first report for the 2017/18 financial year covering the period April to June 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 2017/18 is scheduled for November 2018.
  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 ninth release of waste data collected on an 11 council basis. During this period in Northern Ireland, eight 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. 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 Office via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

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