(L-R) Aoife McCrory, Waste & Pollution Solutions Coordinator and Eric Randall, Chief Executive, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful
Most recent data from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) shows that 20,775 tonnes of waste was collected by Mid and East Antrim Council during the three-month period from April to June 2024, slightly up on the 20,623 tonnes collected during the same period in 2023.
To put the problem into perspective, this volume of waste weighs about the same as 1,731 double decker buses.
To tackle the challenge at hand, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful has unveiled an education and awareness campaign - A Better Way. Funded by DAERA through the Carrier Bag Levy, the campaign encourages us to explore the ways we can by reduce, reuse or repair items to significantly decrease the amount of waste we create.
Minister Muir said:
“The prevention of waste is the most favourable option and as such is at the top of the Waste Hierarchy. Waste prevention saves money through more efficient use of materials, reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change, and supports the principles of a circular economy. I am keen to see our resources moved as far up the waste hierarchy as possible and welcome the impact that this campaign will have on changing waste prevention behaviours across Northern Ireland.”
Of the waste collected by the Council between April and June 2024, 86.8 per cent was generated by households and 8,591 tonnes of the waste was directed to landfill. This reveals that there is an ongoing challenge with the sheer volume of what ends up in our bins, and the strain that managing this waste puts on our environment.
Eric Randall, Chief Executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said:
“Our A Better Way campaign highlights that we have the chance to make small and simple changes in our daily lives to reduce what goes in the bin, and what is directed to landfill.
“At present, the amount we are throwing away is indicative of a very wasteful culture. We need to challengeour perceptions of what waste is. Let’s explore the ways in which we can reduce, reuse and repair to turn the tide on waste in 2025.”
As part of the campaign, an official A Better Way mark has been developed, which retailers and wider organisations such as vintage clothing shops, alteration specialists, appliance repairs and others committed to doing better, can display.
Repair Café Belfast has already signed up to don the mark, demonstrating that many see the value A Better Way.
Aoife McCrory, Waste & Pollution Solutions Coordinator at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, highlighted some of the solutions that A Better Way initiates. She said:
“It is better for the environment and our pockets to cherish what we already have. Why not invest in reusable coffee cups and water bottles, designed for long-term use, to reduce the need to buy disposable items?
“Similarly, rather than throwing food jars away, use them as storage containers. Borrow or rent from friends and neighbours to reduce the need to buy new. Use refill stations to cut down on packaging, opt to go paperless when it comes to banking, repair tears on clothing. The better ways exist – but we need to show greater commitment.”