The Net Zero Insights webinar series is 60% complete, with over 130 participants across 5 webinars gaining expert guidance on emissions reduction and sustainable practices.

A companion video series featuring 5 local companies will launch in summer 2025, alongside a new Emissions Reporting Toolkit.

A best practice visit to the Midlands provided valuable insights into clean technology and collaboration.

Support from 6 Innovate UK Technical Assistance Partners is enhancing local expertise in net zero delivery.

Ongoing practical projects include CleanTech Collaborative Growth Network training, HyTech NI communications planning, and a borough-wide carbon baselining exercise.

We continue to make strong progress in delivering environmental education to local schools and communities.

The number of Eco-Schools with Green Flag status has increased by 5%, and an awards ceremony will take place in June to recognise participating schools.

Targets relating to community engagement covering topics such as recycling, circular economy, energy conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable living have been exceeded.

Sessions have been delivered to a wide range of groups including U3A, Inner Wheel, Cairncastle Women’s Institute, Ballymena Probus Club, and the Carson Project.

We have continued to actively engage with the Regional Community Resilience Group (RCRG) while supporting local community groups to build resilience through the Five Sources of Resilience.

Regionally, we contributed to workshops that brought together government departments, academia, and the community sector, helping shape the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) report presented to the Northern Ireland Executive.

The report recommended stronger departmental leadership, resources, and greater community sector involvement.

We continue to promote the Community Resilience Toolkit and explore funding to support its wider use.

Plans are also underway to establish a Community Resilience Network, with 4 co-produced workshops to be delivered across the borough in the year ahead.

Almost 370,000 trees have been planted across the year, the majority at Woodburn Forest, and the remainder via local schools and community groups.

We continue to engage local communities and schools through tree planting, educational workshops and publications.

We remain actively involved in the Energy Managers Forum, with our Energy Manager serving as Chair for the next 2 years.

In this role, they are leading a joint energy procurement effort for 10 local authorities and chairing regular forum meetings.

A sub-committee has been established to oversee annual energy procurement, ensuring continued collaboration and progress.

We successfully delivered 8 energy saving projects this year, exceeding the target of 6.

These included LED lighting upgrades at facilities such as the Showgrounds, Larne Leisure Centre, People’s Park, Oakfield Community Centre, Carrickfergus Civic Centre, Carrickfergus Town Hall, and Sir Thomas Dixon building.

In addition, 4 clean energy projects were completed.

Solar PV installations were delivered at the Sullatober Depot and Portglenone Marina, while battery storage systems were installed at Springwell Street car park and Sullatober Waste Transfer Station.

Data logging technology and analytics platforms were also added to the Showgrounds, Carrickfergus Civic Centre, Larne and Carrickfergus Leisure centres, Portglenone marina, Springwell Street car park, and Sullatober sites to inform future investment opportunities in renewable generation and storage.

Sustainability strategies have been drafted and are currently under review to allow for alignment with the updated and revised Asset Management Strategy and Fleet Decarbonisation Strategy.

The completion of this work will be carried into 2025/26.  

From April to December 2024, 52.67% of household waste collected was sent for recycling.

Verified data up to the end of March 2025 is not yet available and will be provided in our next update.

From April to December 2024, 11,566 tonnes of biodegradable collected municipal waste was sent to landfill.

Verified data up to the end of March 2025 is not yet available and will be provided in our next update.

From April to December 2024, there were 58,405 tonnes of collected municipal waste arisings.

Verified data up to the end of March 2025 is not yet available and will be provided in our next update.

We successfully delivered 5 key circular economy initiatives, promoting sustainability, waste reduction, and community support:

1. School Uniform Scheme - Ran across July and August, gifting nearly 2,000 items to families.
2. Christmas Toy Container Scheme - Ran from 28 October to 13 December, diverting 3.1 tonnes of toys from landfill, generating charity revenue, and providing affordable gifts.
3. Community Fridges - Collected over 11 tonnes of food (32,655 meals) across the year.
4. Community RePaint Scheme - Collected 1,690 litres of paint, redistributing 1,321 litres to local groups and individuals.
5. Spectacle Reuse Scheme - Collected 1,500 pairs of glasses for reuse.

These schemes will continue into 2025/26.