This contract, for one-year with an option for two more years, will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill from its recycling facilities at The Cutts in Derriaghy, Drumlough and Carryduff, said the city council.
The waste will now be collected and sorted at Irish Waste Services premises maximising the amount of recyclable material being recovered within the Council area.
Alderman Tommy Jeffers, chairman of the council’s environmental services committee, speaking about the new contract, said: “Over the last 18 months the council has been implementing a number of measures to increase its recycling rate and reduce waste to landfill. These have included an increase in the types of plastic items that can be recycled from home and the requirement to recycle all food waste in the brown bin provided. Our residents have embraced these new recycling habits and we thank them for their efforts.”
He added: “This new contract will allow the council to play its part in improving recycling rates through the processing of residual and bulky waste from its recycling centres. Annually approximately 8,200 tonnes of waste is sent to landfill from our recycling centres; and Irish Waste Services will play an important role in diverting as much as possible in the year ahead.”
Jason McPolin, managing director of Irish Waste Services said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract. Our circular economy approach of recovery, re-use and recycling diverts waste streams that have historically been landfilled. It results in cost savings for the Council and achievement of its diversion targets.”
Recycling review
Separately, Lisburn & Castlereagh city council is reviewing its recycling services and has received advice from consultancy Resource Futures.
This month the council opened an online survey to learn more about the recycling habits of its residents and get their views on current recycling services.
Alderman Jeffers said: “The Council is keen to continue to work with its residents to increase recycling within the Lisburn Castlereagh area. We want to be able to divert a high percentage of recyclable material from landfill to meet legislation, protect the environment and keep our waste management costs down.
“Our residents have the capability to recycle a significant amount of household materials from their home using their recycling bins and kerbie boxes. The majority of our residents are very good at recycling the correct materials in the correct bin or box; and this survey will allow us to identify any material that may be causing contamination in bins.”
Residual waste
Changes put forward by Resource Futures are thought to include reductions in the frequency of residual waste collections. The council has agreed that one of the options put forward by the consultants should be progressed to a business case and that a review be carried out into the collection frequency of the residual waste bin.
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