Residents of Carrickfergus are set to enjoy a new and improved recycling centre, which stands at twice the size of the old facility.

DAERA Minister Edwin Poots and Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Noel Williams were on hand to host the official opening of the £1 million Sullatober Household Recycling Centre (HRC).

Designed to cater for 40,000 residents, the Sullatober HRC is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 6pm during the summer period (April – September) and will change to winter opening hours in October.

As well as increasing the amount of waste segregation by over 20%, the new facility will help Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to divert over 1,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year.

The new site will also provide more efficient waste compaction and haulage, with new material streams for recycling and a reduction in carbon emissions.

Planning approval for the Sullatober HRC development was granted in December 2020, with Council securing £995,000 in funding from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for the project.

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Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Noel Williams said: "The new Sullatober Household Recycling Centre will provide a much more efficient service for the residents of Carrickfergus and is a welcome milestone in Council's key strategic aim of delivering a sustainable and healthy local environment which is protected for future generations.

"By increasing segregation of waste and the quality of materials collected, the new Recycling Centre will support local processors and the circular economy of Northern Ireland.

"The opening of the new Sullatober Household Recycling Centre marks a milestone in the recycling service offered to Carrickfergus residents.

"Once again, we'd like to thank you for your patience whilst construction works were ongoing and we very much welcome Carrick residents to the new site."

Speaking at the opening, Minister Edwin Poots added: "I am delighted to attend the official opening of Sullatober Household Recycling Centre. This £1million investment is part of my Department's Household Waste Recycling Collaborative Change Programme and will mean over 1,000 tonnes of waste will be diverted from landfill each year. The money will also help improve how waste is separated and the quality of materials collected, to support local processors and our circular economy. We will continue to look for ways to collaborate with local councils and other stakeholders to ensure recycling rates remain high and to see ways of increasing the economic value of recycling in the economy by improving the quality of recycling and reducing contamination."

The new HRC will accept all waste and recycling streams previously accepted at the old site.