Community groups are being reminded that they can apply for grants of up to £10,000 for projects that will boost recycling in their area.

Belfast City Council recently announced its Zero Waste Community Grant scheme which is aimed at increasing Belfast's recycling rate as well as improving local environments.

It comes as the council rolls out its new inner-city recycling service which will increase households' recycling capacity, diverting waste away from landfill and helping the council achieve tough new EU targets which come into effect in 2015.

Councillor Steven Corr, chairman of the Council's Health and Environmental Services Committee, said: "We need to achieve a recycling rate of at least 50 per cent by 2020 and currently we're sitting about 39 per cent for the first quarter of this year.

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"Currently the council spends £6.3m every year disposing of black bin waste. Recycling is the most cost effective way of getting rid of waste as the council saves £82 for every tonne that's diverted from landfill prior to treatment. We must provide assistance to make it as easy as possible for ratepayers to increase the amount of waste they can recycle and that is what the initiatives agreed tonight are setting out to do.

"Under the Zero Waste Community Grant Scheme, community groups and organisations will be able to apply to the council for funding of up to £10,000 for projects that increase waste prevention, divert materials from landfill and encourage residents to fully participate in the council's existing recycling schemes.

"We want communities to get onboard with us and we recognise that across the city, it isn't necessarily a 'one size fits all' approach to recycling. This grants fund is aimed at giving communities the opportunity to tailor ideas to local needs."

(CD/JP)