Three-tier wheelie boxes for Mid and East Antrim households

Triple stack bins look set to be wheeled out across Mid and East Antrim in a bid to improve recycling rates.
Triple stack bins.Triple stack bins.
Triple stack bins.

Householders in Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena are expected to switch to a uniform waste disposal system across the borough.

Speaking at a recent meeting of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Chief Executive Anne Donaghy said: “We have made an application for triple stack bins to be rolled out across the borough. Triple stack is the way forward.”

Waste management costs are reported to take up a “huge proportion” of the council’s budget with landfill costs of £103 per ton for each home per annum.

A report to council by Mid and East Antrim’s director of operations stated: “Waste costs continue to increase and it is important that council puts in place the proper systems and collection regimes which minimise waste production, increases recycling and increases the income derived from the utilisation of material within the circular economy.”

Councillors were also reminded that landfill capacity in Northern Ireland will be reduced further with the closure of Mullaghglass landfill site, outside Lisburn, within the next 18 months resulting in a subsequent rise in costs.

According to a council consultation document for 2020/2021, the “user-friendly, weekly, three-tier wheelie box system and smaller black bins” will be delivered to approximately 58,200 households in Mid and East Antrim.

The council has already advised that 55 per cent of black bin contents could be recycled rather than landfilled which would mean significant savings on landfill charges.

It has also been reported that “kerbside box systems result in better quality recyclables”.

In 2018/19, 50 per cent of all household waste in Northern Ireland was sent for reuse, dry recycling and composting.

The new triple stack bins will be funded by DAERA (Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs).

Further discussions will take place through the group party leaders on the strategic way forward and a report will be brought back to council.

The council will be represented at a workshop to be held this week with representatives from Welsh local authorities that have “transformed” their waste collection systems and have the highest recycling rates in the United Kingdom.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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