Northern Ireland Charts an Ambitious Course for Resource Management

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has published a consultation document that signals Northern Ireland's determination to become a leader in sustainable resource management. 'Rethinking Our Resources: The Northern Ireland Resources and Waste Management Strategy' sets out an ambitious vision for transforming how the region handles waste and materials over the next six years.

The draft strategy arrives at a pivotal moment. With a legally binding commitment under the Climate Change Act (NI) 2022 to achieve Net Zero by 2050, and a headline target to reach 70% waste recycling by 2030, Northern Ireland is positioning itself at the forefront of the UK's transition to a circular economy. This is a welcome and necessary development that deserves serious engagement from all stakeholders.

Key Strengths of the Strategy

Northern Ireland already boasts an impressive track record. The region has increased its household recycling rate from just 10% in 2002 to over 51% today, making it the second-highest recycling nation in the UK and the ninth highest globally. The strategy builds upon this foundation.

The strategy covers seven distinct waste categories: household waste, non-household municipal waste, commercial and industrial waste, construction and demolition waste, hazardous waste, agricultural waste, and litter and fly-tipping. The document sets out 10 clear targets and 63 specific actions, providing a roadmap for the transformation of waste policy in Northern Ireland.

The introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) for packaging, a UK-wide Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers from 2027, and mandatory Digital Waste Tracking by October 2026 represents a step-change in how Northern Ireland will manage its resources. These are fundamental shifts that will make producers financially responsible for the full lifecycle of their products. The ambition to collect flexible plastic packaging from households and the prohibition of single-use vapes from June 2025 are all examples of policies soon to be implemented under the strategy.

Particularly commendable is the strategy's commitment to multi-year, integrated behaviour change campaigns, the establishment of a Northern Ireland Business Recycling Advisory Group, and continued support for voluntary organisations like Northern Ireland Resources Network (NIRN).

Northern Ireland has consistently shown it can be a pioneer in waste policy. The region was the first in the UK to introduce both the carrier bag levy and separate food waste collection regulations. The strategy builds on this tradition by proposing regulations on wet wipes containing plastic. This willingness to lead rather than follow is encouraging.

Areas Requiring Further Development

While the strategy's ambition is laudable, several areas would benefit from additional clarity and attention as the consultation process unfolds:

• Data gaps: The strategy acknowledges there are significant gaps in data, particularly for commercial and industrial waste, agricultural waste, and construction sectors. However, the lack of baseline data makes it difficult to assess whether targets are appropriate or to monitor progress effectively. Accelerating the implementation of Digital Waste Tracking and investing in improved data collection systems should be key short-term priorities.

• Infrastructure constraints: Northern Ireland currently lacks sufficient capacity to process all recyclables domestically, has limited hazardous waste treatment facilities, and faces constrained landfill capacity. The strategy notes that 60% of waste exports go to other parts of the world. While the strategy acknowledges these infrastructure gaps, the pathway to addressing them remains unclear. The commissioning of an assessment of waste infrastructure needs is positive, but stakeholders will be eager to understand how the identified gaps will be funded and filled.

• Enforcement capacity: The strategy acknowledges that compliance with existing Food Waste Regulations is 'generally low' among businesses. This raises questions about whether current enforcement provisions are adequate to deliver on new requirements. Expanding recycling obligations to all non-household municipal premises is an excellent ambition but will require significant investment in compliance monitoring and support for smaller businesses that may struggle with the transition.

• Funding certainty: While the strategy outlines numerous actions and programmes, greater clarity on funding mechanisms would strengthen confidence among stakeholders. The Household Waste Recycling Collaborative Change Programme (HWRCCP) is mentioned as a funding mechanism for councils, but the broader investment landscape for infrastructure development, business support, and communications campaigns could be more explicitly addressed. Investors have historically struggled with uncertainty in the waste sector, and clear signals about long-term government investment plans will be essential.

• The 70% target challenge: Achieving 70% recycling by 2030 represents a significant leap from the current plateau of approximately 50%. While ambitious targets can drive innovation and focus minds, we question whether the proposed actions are sufficient to deliver such a substantial improvement in under five years. The strategy would benefit from a more detailed trajectory showing expected year-on-year progress and the specific contributions expected from each waste category and associated budgets to support implementation.

A Welcome Foundation for Transformation

'Rethinking Our Resources' represents a significant and welcome step forward in Northern Ireland's journey toward sustainable resource management. The strategy's comprehensive scope, ambitious targets, and recognition of the collaborative effort required to achieve our recycling targets are commendable.

The challenges identified are not criticisms of the strategy's intent but rather areas where further detail and investment will be needed to translate ambition into reality. With appropriate resources and continued stakeholder engagement there is every reason to be optimistic about what this strategy can achieve.

We strongly encourage all stakeholders, from individual citizens to major industrial producers and processors, to engage with this consultation. The strategy's success will ultimately depend not just on government action but on the collective commitment of everyone who generates and handles resources in Northern Ireland. This is an opportunity to shape the future of our environment and economy for generations to come.

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