North West Regional Waste Management Group
The twenty-six local authorities in Northern Ireland have formed three voluntary groupings to deal with waste management. These groups are ARC 21, which represents the eastern councils, SWaMP, which represents the southern councils and the North West Region Waste Management Group (NWRWMG), the only grouping with a cross border element. Ballymoney Borough Council is a member of NWRWMG along with Coleraine Borough Council, Derry City Council, Limavady Borough Council, Magherafelt District Council, Moyle District Council, Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council.
The NWRWMG waste management plan aims to set out what needs to be done in order for the NW councils to meet their statutory obligations under the EU Waste Framework Directive and The Waste and Contaminated Land Order (1997). Councils within this group work collectively to deliver targets set out in the plan.
In Northern Ireland we have the following targets for waste:
- To recover 40% of household waste by 2010
- To divert 25% of biodegradable waste from landfill by 2010
- To divert 50% of biodegradable waste from landfill by 2013
- To divert 65% of biodegradable waste from landfill by 2020
The NWRWMG plan proposes key actions to be undertaken for waste management. The focus of these actions is to provide education and awareness campaigns on waste issues to the general public, schools, businesses and communities. The plan proposes provision of a range of recycling sites, recycling centres and kerbside collection (second wheeled bins) for recyclable materials. Composting of both kitchen and garden waste is planned through collection at kerbside and provision of home compost bins.
Any bid to reduce the amount of waste we are sending to landfill will need the full participation of the public. Without co-operation from the public, Councils will not be able to achieve their targets.
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