The Rethink Waste grants totalling £1.6million will be available in 2012/13 for capital projects that will reduce waste to landfill in Northern Ireland through recycling or reuse activity. Rethink Waste Fund Grants have been awarded to Councils over the past two years for around 52 projects and it is estimated that they will result in the diversion of over 30,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year. Diversion of this waste reduces the burden on ratepayers who would otherwise have to meet the cost of treating this waste and pay increasing landfill charges.
Northern Ireland is required to meet the European statutory household waste recycling target of 50% by 2020. The latest published data indicates that it is currently recycling 35.6% of municipal waste.
In 2010/11 a total of 44 Rethink Waste (Capital) grants totalling £4.2million were awarded to Councils. In 2011/12 a total of 11 further projects have been approved for grants totalling £1.27million.
Rethink Waste (Capital) fund grants are applicable to Councils only. A further phase of funding for Rethink Waste (Revenue) fund grants will also be launched shortly – applicable to Councils individually, in partnership with other Councils, with the community and voluntary sector, the private sector or through Northern Ireland’s three Waste Management Groups.