Waste Management
Waste Management
We also monitor three statutory waste management indicators on the amount of waste collected by the Council, the amount of household waste that is sent for recycling, and the amount of biodegradable waste that is sent to landfill.
The results for the period April 2023 to March 2024 are summarised below. We remain within the standard set for all three indicators.
The figures presented are provisional, pending audit and verification by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Waste Management results (summary trend and comparative analysis)
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Indicator: |
The percentage of household waste collected by councils that is sent for recycling. |
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Annual standard: |
A minimum of 50%. |
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Past results |
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2019/20 51.4% |
2020/21 50.8% |
2021/22 51.9% |
2022/23 51.4% |
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2023/24 |
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Mid and East Antrim Borough Council result 50.7% |
Status and trend Target achieved. Slight decrease in performance from 2022/23. |
Northern Ireland council average 51.6% |
Mid and East Antrim comparative council position 6th |
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Indicator: |
The amount of biodegradable Local Authority collected municipal waste that is landfilled. |
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Annual standard: |
A maximum of 16,387 tonnes. |
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Past results |
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2019/20 13,684 tonnes |
2020/21 14,508 tonnes |
2021/22 14,528 tonnes |
2022/23 14,599 tonnes |
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2023/24 |
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Mid and East Antrim Borough Council result: 15,239 tonnes |
Status and trend: Target achieved. Slight decrease in performance from 2022/23. |
Northern Ireland council average: Not available |
Mid and East Antrim comparative council position: Not available |
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Indicator: |
The amount of Local Authority collected municipal waste arisings. |
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Annual standard: |
A maximum of 75,797 tonnes. |
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Past results |
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2019/20 73,797 tonnes |
2020/21 78,986 tonnes |
2021/22 76,689 tonnes |
2022/23 73,433 tonnes |
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2023/24 |
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Mid and East Antrim Borough Council result: 74,842 tonnes |
Status and trend: Target achieved. Slight decrease in performance from 2022/23. |
Northern Ireland council average: Not available |
Mid and East Antrim comparative council position: Not available |
Indicator: The percentage of household waste collected by council that is sent for recycling.
We have collected more than the minimum 50% household recycling standard every year since 2017/18. At 50.7%, recycling rates were lower in 2023/24, compared with 2022/23 and 2021/22, with a significant reduction experienced within the final six months of the year.
Levels of recycling can be impacted by household behaviours, holiday periods, and seasonal waste generation.
Rates are monitored by the Council every quarter, with a downward trend normally experienced in the final quarter of the year (January to March). However, 2023/24 saw a marked decrease in recycling within quarter three (October to December) and quarter four, with the lowest levels recorded within the last five years.
A downward trend in rates of household recycling has been noted across Northern Ireland councils, as observed at a recent meeting of the National Communications Advisory Panel. We are one of seven local councils to meet the target in 2023/24, with rates ranging from 60.9% to 41.1%.
Household recycling has been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, where financial concerns have taken precedence, and throughout the pandemic, when health and safety were prioritised.
We have taken a number of steps to positively influence recycling rates within the borough, as follows:
- We are working with the regional Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to co-design and promote waste and recycling communications campaigns, ensuring consistent messaging across all local councils, such as Food Waste Action Week (March 2023) and Recycle Week (October 2023), which were supplemented by smaller campaigns delivered throughout the year.
- We support the Eco-Schools Programme, in partnership with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. This programme works with local schools to foster environmental awareness from a young age, and addresses waste management and litter. We hope to increase the number of schools with Green Flags by 5% by the end of June 2025, as part of our Performance Improvement Plan for 2024/25.
- We also hold community engagement sessions on Waste and Recycling each year with organisations such as businesses, community groups, sports clubs, and church groups. We hope to deliver at least 10 of these by the end of March 2025, as part of our Performance Improvement Plan for 2024/25.
- Our Waste Harmonisation Sub-Committee is currently exploring ways to deliver a more effective and efficient waste management system, and increase recycling performance.
- We also provided a response to the recent Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Rethinking our Resources: Measures for Climate Action and the Circular Economy in NI consultation, which focused on how to increase recycling performance and engagement with both the household sector and the business sector.
The percentage of household waste collected that is sent for recycling (including waste prepared for re-use) – Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (annual results)
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Annual Standard |
50% |
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2019/20 |
51.4% |
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2020/21 |
50.8% |
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2021/22 |
51.9% |
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2022/23 |
51.4% |
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2023/24 |
50.7% |
The percentage of household waste collected that is sent for recycling (including waste prepared for re-use) – By Northern Ireland council (annual results)
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Annual standard: |
50% |
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Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council |
2019/20 57.30% |
2020/21 54.45% |
2021/22 60.20% |
2022/23 61.44% |
2023/24 60.9% |
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Ards and North Down Borough Council |
2019/20 54.70% |
2020/21 50.97% |
2021/22 48.34% |
2022/23 52.33% |
2023/24 55.1% |
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Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council |
2019/20 54.80% |
2020/21 54.34% |
2021/22 53.88% |
2022/23 55.41% |
2023/24 55.6% |
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Belfast City Council |
2019/20 45.40% |
2020/21 43.13% |
2021/22 40.96% |
2022/23 41.51% |
2023/24 41.1% |
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Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council |
2019/20 53.80% |
2020/21 53.86% |
2021/22 52.25% |
2022/23 55.01% |
2023/24 49.6% |
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Derry City and Strabane District Council |
2019/20 44.20% |
2020/21 46.13% |
2021/22 45.08% |
2022/23 45.74% |
2023/24 48.2% |
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Fermanagh and Omagh District Council |
2019/20 49.10% |
2020/21 47.13% |
2021/22 47.73% |
2022/23 48.43% |
2023/24 46.7% |
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Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council |
2019/20 50.80% |
2020/21 50.40% |
2021/22 49.72% |
2022/23 50.28% |
2023/24 50.9% |
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Mid and East Antrim Borough Council |
2019/20 51.40% |
2020/21 50.80% |
2021/22 51.92% |
2022/23 51.39% |
2023/24 50.7% |
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Mid Ulster District Council |
2019/20 58.80% |
2020/21 58.91% |
2021/22 58.21% |
2022/23 58.71% |
2023/24 58.6% |
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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council |
2019/20 53.70% |
2020/21 52.62% |
2021/22 49.83% |
2022/23 50.30% |
2023/24 50.0% |
Indicator: The amount (tonnage) of biodegradable local authority collected municipal waste that is landfilled.
In 2023/24, the amount of biodegradable waste collected that was sent to landfill increased to 15,239 tonnes. This is up 4.7% from the previous year and is the fourth consecutive rise in the borough since 2019/20.
Biodegradable waste includes, textiles, organic (food waste and green garden waste), wood, paper, and cardboard. The amount recorded in 2023/24 is lower than the 16,387 tonne allowance set by the Northern Ireland Landfill Allowance Scheme, which was in place until 2019/20. Until clarity is provided on this indicator, we continue to use this allowance as an internal target.
A number of practices are in place to help to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste in the borough that is sent to landfill, such as organic waste and dry recycling kerbside collections, textile and wood disposal services, and various communications campaigns which are delivered throughout the year.
The amount (tonnage) of biodegradable local authority collected municipal waste that is landfilled – Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (annual results)
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2019/20 |
Target: 16,387 |
Achieved: 13,684 |
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2020/21 |
Target: 16,387 |
Achieved: 14,508 |
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2021/22 |
Target: 16,387 |
Achieved: 14,528 |
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2022/23 |
Target: 16,387 |
Achieved: 14,559 |
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2023/24 |
Target: 16,387 |
Achieved: 15,239 |
Indicator: The amount of local authority collected municipal waste arisings.
This indicator relates to the total quantity of waste collected by the Council, both recyclable and non-recyclable, from households, businesses, and institutional sources within our area.
There was a modest increase in the volume of collected municipal waste arisings to 74,824 tonnes in 2023/24, representing a 1.9% rise from the previous year.
No statutory standard is set for this indicator, as we are obligated to collect the amount of waste presented at the kerbside, household recycling centres, and commercial waste.
We have developed various approaches to positively influence environmental practices within the borough, as outlined within our Corporate Plan, and Climate and Sustainability Action Plan (2023-2027).
We also deliver a number of programmes to support local communities and to promote re-use, such as:
- Our Christmas Toy Container Scheme, operating for the fifth year, which gifted to local communities and diverted over 3 tonnes from landfill.
- Our School Uniform Scheme, which runs throughout the summer, saw local citizens donate or pick up school uniforms and school-related items, supporting our communities in a time of significant financial pressure, and diverting waste from potential landfill.
We hope to deliver 5 similar circular economy initiatives throughout 2024/25, as part of our Performance Improvement Plan.
Local authority collected municipal waste arisings – Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (annual results)
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2019/20 |
73,797 tonnes |
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2020/21 |
78,986 tonnes |
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2021/22 |
76,689 tonnes |
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2022/23 |
73,433 tonnes |
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2023/24 |
74,824 tonnes |