By Joe McCann
HOUSEHOLDERS in Ards and North Down recycle more than almost any other council area in Northern Ireland, figures have shown.
The borough is now rated as the second highest performing council in the province on household recycling, achieving a rate of 55.9% compared to the Northern Ireland average of 50%.
Members of the council’s Environment Committee were told that in 2024–2025 the council collected 83,605 tonnes of municipal waste. From this, 47,214 tonnes (56.5%) was prepared for reuse, composted or recycled, 12,276 tonnes (14.7%) was sent for energy recovery, and 23,915 tonnes (28%) was sent to landfill.
Household waste in the borough totalled 78,230 tonnes, of which 43,871 tonnes was separated for reuse, dry recycling and composting, including 324 tonnes for reuse, 17,292 tonnes for dry recycling and 26,256 tonnes for composting.
In total, 22,672 tonnes of household residual waste was sent to landfill in 2024-2025. Since January last year, leftover waste has been further treated to get more recyclable material, the majority of this is then put towards use in the energy grid.
Councillors also praised local residents and noted that in the 10 years, from 2015, the household recycling rate has increased from 40.2% to 56.1%, the second best in Northern Ireland.
Bangor councillor Alastair Cathcart raised some questions in the meeting over the council’s continued use of landfill to dispose of waste, saying he did not believe any waste should be sent to landfill ‘in this day and age’.
Officers explained that landfill is now only used for waste that cannot be broken down or recycled and this amount is decreasing well in line with the council’s net-zero and environmental goals.
Ards peninsula alderman Robert Adair paid tribute to bin collection staff, praising their work over the Christmas and New Year period. He said crews continued collections in all weather conditions and ensured that any bins missed due to access or other issues were later lifted.
Mr Adair said the service was one every ratepayer relied on and added that Ards and North Down topped other councils for bin collection and asked that the thanks of councillors be conveyed to staff.
