Guidance for Councils for Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs)

Date published: 28 April 2020

Last updated: 05 May 2020

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has released a set of principles to help our local Councils decide if it is safe to re-open their household waste recycling centres (HWRCs). The Minister has written to the Chief Executive of each of the 11 Councils, NILGA and Arc21, with the 5 key principles to help them decide on any changes to waste services in a response to the Covid-19 emergency. 

The principles are applicable to all waste services but are currently focused on the issues around the closure of HWRCs.

Details

This non-statutory guidance is to assist Councils and the waste sector to make appropriate decisions around HWRC services in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The waste sector is of vital importance in the safeguarding of public health, protecting the environment and servicing the economy.  Waste and recycling services are critical public services and should be maintained as far as possible in order to protect the health of the Northern Ireland public from a build-up of waste; safeguard the important flow of materials, such as for food packaging; and deliver a low carbon circular economy agenda.  

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