Mid and East Antrim homes could get weekly food waste collections

Weekly food waste collections could be provided to households in Northern Ireland by 2023, members of Mid and East Antrim’s Direct Services Committee have heard.

It was one of a number of proposals outlined by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in a report to councillors at a meeting on Tuesday evening.

Under the new proposals, businesses would also be required to separate food waste for collection.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They may also be required to separate other waste for recycling if laws are introduced to increase recycling of non-households municipal waste. DAERA has proposed “maximising business recycling whilst alleviating the cost burden on businesses”.

DAERA has also proposed that councils should reduce black bin waste.

Mid and East Antrim has already outlined plans to supply households in the borough with a smaller black bin.

Councils would also be required to collect a “core set of dry recyclable material” at kerbside. This would be glass bottles and containers, paper and card, plastic bottles, plastic pots tubs and trays and steel and aluminium tins and cans.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The borough council has applied to DAERA for £4.2m funding in a bid to introduce a uniform waste collection system and reduce landfill costs.

Concern has been expressed among residents over the capacity of the triple stack system which is expected to replace blue bins in Larne and kerbside boxes in Carrickfergus and Ballymena. Existing brown bins for food and garden waste will still be used.

The proposals were outlined in a discussion document “Future Recycling and Separate Collection of Waste of a Household Nature in Northern Ireland” published by DAERA for consideration by local authorities.

The council’s director of Operations, Philip Thompson, told councillors the triple stack bin system enables “flexibility and capacity” for food waste collections on a weekly basis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Another issue raised is about the quality of recyclables. There is a drive on and a push for higher quality material. That ties in with the system we have proposed.

“Triple stack provides quality recycling local manufacturers want.”

Larne Lough Alliance Councillor Danny Donnelly, who has been trialling a triple stack bin at home for two months, said: “I find it very easy to use to separate use into three containers, a very robust, stable system.” Read more here

Coast Road Alliance Alderman Gerardine Mulvenna said she welcomed the conversation which gives everyone an opportunity to engage.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

--

A message from the Editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you.