Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir has announced £2.6 million in funding for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council through the Household Waste Recycling Collaborative Change Programme.

The funding will enable the Council to expand its weekly recycling service to around 24,000 households in the wider Antrim area and introduce a new glass kerbside collection service. By matching the funding, the Council is investing a total of £5.2 million in a comprehensive recycling system using wheelie boxes for household collection. This initiative will allow nearly 80% of recyclables to be reprocessed locally, divert more waste from landfills, and create local jobs while supporting the manufacturing industry. The increased waste diversion will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower landfill costs for ratepayers, and contribute to Northern Ireland's goal of achieving Net Zero by 2050.

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Minister Muir said: "Waste is increasingly being viewed as a valuable resource with the potential to make a significant contribution to the Northern Ireland economy as well as helping our environment. I am delighted to be able to award £2.6 million to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for this.

"Whilst much progress has been made by the Councils in terms of recycling I am convinced that more can be done and I want to ensure Northern Ireland achieves high levels in both quantity and quality of recycling with more recycling staying local and less waste going to landfill."

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Neil Kelly said: "I am delighted to see this significant investment being made in our waste services. As the top recycling Council in Northern Ireland, we currently recycle approximately 60% of our household waste, which is a fantastic achievement by the residents of Antrim and Newtownabbey. This investment means we will further boost local recycling, keeping local jobs and harmonising the service for residents in the wider Antrim area. Sending waste to landfill costs significantly more than recycling it, and with disposal costs increasing year on year, we need to shift the focus from landfill to recycling to benefit the environment, our economy and reduce costs."