Northern Ireland Resources and Waste Management Strategy

Overview

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is seeking views on the draft Rethinking Our Resources: Northern Ireland Resources and Waste Management Strategy.

This consultation process covers a range of issues relevant to the development of an updated Northern Ireland Resources and Waste Management Strategy. This new strategy aims to maximise the potential for better use of the resources consumed in Northern Ireland, to prevent them becoming waste, or where generated, to ensure they are captured and processed into products that minimise environmental pollution. The strategy builds on previous plans by broadening the range of sectors obligated, presenting new actions to achieve higher targets, and setting out the greater ambition necessary to meet net zero.

In proposing considerable improvements to the management of all Northern Ireland’s waste, the strategy provides a wider range of drivers and support based on the recognition of the different levels of potential from all stakeholders in the value chain. The actions within the strategy are designed to help Northern Ireland achieve both the Circular Economy Package targets and the recycling target set out in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 that will require contributions from a wide range of sectors.

The Circular Economy Package targets include a municipal waste recycling target of 65% and a 10% cap on the amount of municipal waste going to landfill by 2035.

The Climate Change Act requires that at least 70% of waste must be recycled by 2030 in Northern Ireland.

The draft Rethinking Our Resources: Northern Ireland Resources and Waste Management Strategy aims to integrate policy reforms, modern technology, and partnerships to ensure long-term sustainability and adaptability. It focuses on controlled wastes from households, commercial and industrial premises, and category 3 animal by-products, contributing to recycling targets and Net Zero commitments. The strategy provides both long-term plans and short-term actions to drive significant environmental change.

The strategy outlines 10 targets and 63 actions to help Northern Ireland achieve its vision. These actions include new support programmes, statutory and best practice guidance, campaigns, data refinements, and cross-departmental collaboration. The strategy provides a long-term plan for significant environmental change, alongside clear, effective, and realistic short-term tactics and actions necessary to drive the required outcomes.

This consultation is designed to be completed whilst referencing the draft Rethinking Our Resources: Northern Ireland Resources and Waste Management Strategy document.

Why your views matter

This consultation offers everyone the opportunity to provide their views on the vision, targets, objectives and actions in the strategy.  We are inviting responses, from both individual members of the public and organisations.