Antrim and Newtownabbey Council reiterates small bin support

Businesses should be required to segregate waste to be recycled by collectors, a report outlining the response of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to a discussion paper on the future of recycling in Northern Ireland has stated.

The council also says that these measures should be introduced in such a way to “minimise the cost burden on businesses and without increasing the financial burden on councils”.

In addition, certain businesses should also be required to segregate food waste for collection through greater enforcement of the current Food Waste Regulations

The local authority was responding to a discussion paper for Northern Ireland from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)

The borough council has also reiterated support for streamlined black household bins ahead of a further roll-out.

The local authority has stated that residual waste from households should be restricted to “help divert more material into the recycling waste streams in line with what has been adopted by council”.

Antrim and Newtownabbey has already taken steps to facilitate reduced waste with the provision of smaller 180 litre black bins alongside a wheelie box service which was introduced in Newtownabbey in 2016.

There are plans to introduce a similar service in Antrim later this year.

However, the council says that further evidence is required before it could comment on the suggestion by DAERA that all kerbside collections from houses and flats should receive a separate weekly collection service for food waste.

The report also states that there should be a “core set of dry recyclable materials collected at the kerbside across Northern Ireland from houses and flats this should comprise of glass bottles and containers, paper and card, plastic bottles, plastic pots, tubs and trays, and steel and aluminium tins and cans” and that any changes should be “applied consistently and at the same time”.

The council has also stated that there should be national guidance to help establish greater consistency in recycling and waste collection services but this needs to be supported by capital and revenue support from government.

Antrim and Newtownabbey and Mid and East Antrim Borough Councils are currently seeking funding from DAERA to roll out a triple stack wheelie bin system. Read previous story here

Antrim and Newtownabbey is continuing to liaise with the Department on the application.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

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