Lessons on waste management at council workshop

The local authority is seeking to harmonise waste services across the Carrickfergus, Larne and Ballymena areas following the council merger earlier this year.

Of particular focus will be the best method of recycling following a presentation from WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) to the council earlier this year.

The report looked at different ways of handling waste in the borough, including changing the frequency of collection, bringing in a stackable ‘wheelie box’ system for recycling and reducing the size of the black bin from 240 litres to 180.

Philip Thompson, Director of Operations, said: “We will have a workshop in early October and we will be asking organisations like Bryson (Recycling), and Newtownabbey and Banbridge councils to come and feed into that. Newtownabbey for example went down the triple stack route and have reduced their bin to 180 litres.”

The triple stack system is currently available for councillors in Carrick and Ballymena to trial, he added.

Mid and East Antrim will also examine how best to utilise existing stock in order to provide recycling services.

With some aspects of fleet maintenance currently carried out by outside contractors, the possibility of providing maintenance at a single point will also be examined.