Northern Ireland’s recycling rate hits 50.5 per cent in 2023/24
Belfast sees the lowest household waste per capita and largest increase in household recycling, while Antrim and Newtownabbey reaches 62 per cent diversion.
Recycling efforts showed a positive trend, with 50.5 per cent of municipal waste being recycled, up from 49/7 per cent in 2022/23. Household waste performed even better, achieving a recycling rate of 51.1 per cent, placing the country second to Wales among the UK nations’ recycling rates.
During the 2023/4 period, Northern Ireland’s councils collected over 1 million tonnes of waste, reflecting a 3 per cent increase from last year. Of this, household waste accounted for the majority at 87.5 per cent.
Whilst the longer term trend has seen a reduction in municipal and household waste since 2020, waste rates are yet to fall back to the low rates achieved in 2012/13.
Regional performance
Waste collection rates varied across councils, with Belfast achieving the lowest household waste per capita at 405 kg and Antrim & Newtownabbey reporting the highest at 545 kg.
Belfast also recorded the largest increase in household recycling, driven by enhanced composting efforts. Despite the increase, Belfast’s recycling rate still remains lower than other councils' rates.
Councils such as Derry City & Strabane, Mid Ulster, and Ards & North Down also reported gains in recycling rates. However, three councils reported that the household recycling rate decreased, with the largest decrease reported in Fermanagh & Omagh council.
| Authority | Prepared for Reuse/Dry Recycling/Composting | Municipal Waste Arisings | Reuse/Composting Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antrim & Newtownabbey | 66005.53 | 106040.46 | 62.25 |
| Ards & North Down | 46462.67 | 83894.89 | 55.38 |
| Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon | 61670.83 | 112334.88 | 54.90 |
| Belfast | 62451.98 | 161097.39 | 38.77 |
| Causeway Coast & Glens | 39105.79 | 80596.44 | 48.52 |
| Derry City & Strabane | 40367.90 | 81026.65 | 49.82 |
| Fermanagh & Omagh | 25076.23 | 56520.95 | 44.37 |
| Lisburn & Castlereagh | 39804.80 | 77616.64 | 51.28 |
| Mid & East Antrim | 36759.21 | 74842.13 | 49.12 |
| Mid Ulster | 46570.36 | 82074.58 | 56.74 |
| Newry, Mourne & Down | 41372.04 | 84636.00 | 48.88 |
| Northern Ireland | 505647.35 | 1000681.02 | 50.53 |
Table 1: Northern Ireland municipal waste management 2023/24
The introduction of initiatives like the Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers indicate the N.Ireland Government's commitment to continue raising rates, though it looks like it will not hit its previous 55 per cent recycling rate for municipal waste by 2025.
