Mid Ulster has the highest household recycling rate in Northern Ireland

Figures releases for the third quarter of 2015-2016 (October – December) show that 48.2% of waste collected in the region was recycled during that period, bringing the average rate for the first 9 months of the year to just over 51%.

This means that the Council is well on course to meet the target set by the EU where all councils must achieve a 50% recycling rate by 2020.

Chair of the Council’s Environment Committee, Councillor Christine McFlynn, praised local people for their recycling efforts.

She said: “Once again the fantastic effort from the people of Mid Ulster has seen the area placed at the top of the recycling table yet again.

“This emphasises that people here understand the importance of recycling waste and making the most of our blue and brown bins.

“It also shows that the work the Council is doing to promote recycling, the facilities available and waste reduction is working and having an effect on people.”

Councillor McFlynn added: “We have to keep up this good work and try to do even better by reducing the amount of waste we create in the first place, and re-using materials where we can.”

For more information and statistics on waste, visit https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications

Meanwhile, recycling has helped one of Northern Ireland’s natural gems outside Maghera with funding from the levy on shopping bags.

The Woodland Trust’s Drumnaph Wood, near Maghera, is one of the few remaining fragments of woodland that once covered mid-Ulster. This rare and precious ancient woodland is buffered by wetland, with recently planted trees in the fields further north. New benches and picnic tables, sensitively dotted throughout, invite walkers to stop and take in the beauty while there is 250 metres of boardwalk.

Turn to page 34