Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics released

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

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. 

The key points are:

• Northern Ireland’s councils collected 260,353 tonnes of LAC municipal waste between July and September 2017, 2.7% lower than the 267,578 tonnes collected during the same three months of 2016. Household waste accounts for 89.8% of total LAC municipal waste. Fermanagh and Omagh, and Belfast had the smallest quantities of household waste per person at 109kg, whilst the largest quantity per person was recorded in Antrim and Newtownabbey at 149kg.
• The household waste preparing for reuse, dry recycling and composting rate was 51.5% between July and September 2017, an increase on the 48.4% recorded during the same three months of 2016. At council level, rates varied from 45.2% in Causeway Coast and Glens to 57.5% in Mid and East Antrim.
• The LAC municipal waste energy recovery rate was 18.4%, similar to the 17.9% reported for July to September 2016. The highest rate was recorded in Newry, Mourne and Down at 50.2% and the lowest was 5.1% in Lisburn & Castlereagh.
• The latest quarterly landfill rate for household waste was 29.5%, a further reduction on the 33.4% recorded during the same three months of 2016. There were 38,574 tonnes of BLACMW sent to landfill between July and September 2017. This was 16.6% lower than the 46,261 tonnes sent between the same three months of 2016. It also accounted for a smaller proportion of the annual allowance, 15.5% between July and September 2017 compared to 17.6% in the equivalent quarter of 2016.

Further Information

Download the statistical report 

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 second report for the 2017/18 financial year covering the period July to September 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 29 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 tenth 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 and Newtownabbey; Ards and North Down, Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh; Mid and East Antrim; Newry, Mourne and Down.

North West Regional Waste Management Group: Causeway Coast and Glens; Derry City and 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.

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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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