Council scoops recycling excellence award

Ballymena Borough Council has won the ‘Council Award for Excellence in Waste Management 2013’ at the annual Sustainable Ireland Awards.

Delighted councillors and council staff were presented with the much coveted award, sponsored by McQuillan Companies, at a glittering ceremony at the Ramada Hotel in Belfast.

Donna Carey (Head of Waste Management at Ballymena Borough Council), Anne Donaghy (Ballymena Borough Council Chief Executive), Cllr Beth Adger (Chairperson of the Councils Regulatory and Operational Services Committee) and Cllr Desmond Robinson (Vice Chairperson of the Councils Regulatory and Operational Services Committee).

placeholder image — Donna Carey (Head of Waste Management at Ballymena Borough Council), Anne Donaghy (Ballymena Borough Council Chief Executive), Cllr Beth Adger (Chairperson of the Councils Regulatory and Operational Services Committee) and Cllr Desmond Robinson (Vice Chairperson of the Councils Regulatory and Operational Services Committee).

Serving a population of more than 63,000, the council has increased its recycling rate from 38.8% by almost six per cent to 44.2% in the past year, leading to a reduction of almost 3,200 tonnes of waste to landfill and savings of £268,296.

It has seen the highest increase in recycling rates of all councils in NI in 2012-13.

The refurbishment and expansion of a household recycling centre at Waveney Road, for example, saw the recycling rate significantly exceeded in June when it reached 80% - well above the NI average.