Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics released

Provisional Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics for January to March 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.

Download the NI LAC municipal waste management statistics Jan to Mar 2018

The key points are:

• Northern Ireland’s councils collected 222,481 tonnes of LAC municipal waste between January and March 2018, 2.1% lower than the 227,153 tonnes collected during the same three months of 2017. Household waste accounts for 89.3% of total LAC municipal waste. Newry, Mourne & Down had the smallest quantity of household waste per person at 100kg, whilst the largest quantity per person was recorded in Antrim & Newtownabbey at 123kg.
• The household waste preparing for reuse, dry recycling and composting rate was 43.6% between January and March 2018, an increase on the 39.7% recorded during the same three months of 2017. At council level, rates varied from 36.1% in Causeway Coast & Glens to 48.8% in Antrim & Newtownabbey.
• The LAC municipal waste energy recovery rate was 20.1%, lower than the 20.7% reported for January to March 2017. The highest rate was recorded in Newry, Mourne & Down at 52.1% and the lowest was 6.1% in Ards & North Down.
• The latest quarterly landfill rate for household waste was 33.8%, a further reduction on the 39.1% recorded during the same three months of 2017. There were 46,273 tonnes of biodegradable local authority collected municipal waste (BLACMW) sent to landfill between January and March 2018. This was 15.3% lower than the 54,617 tonnes sent between the same three months of 2017. It also accounted for a smaller proportion of the annual allowance, 18.6% between January and March 2018 compared to 20.8% in the equivalent quarter of 2017.

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 fourth report for the 2017/18 financial year covering the period January to March 2018. 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 twelfth 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.
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9. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or via email. 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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