NI Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has welcomed the efforts of local councils and his Department to come up with new ways to dispose of waste.

The Minister claimed the work of his officials and the three district council waste management groups to find viable alternatives to landfill were an excellent example of joined up government.

He was commenting at his first meeting with the Strategic Waste Board - a Ministerially chaired advisory body established to oversee and monitor delivery of the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy.

Northern Ireland's three waste management groups (arc21, North West Region Waste Management Group and Southern Waste Management Partnership), the DOE, the Programme Delivery Support Unit (PDSU), NILGA and other key stakeholders meet in this forum to discuss strategy and ongoing implementation.

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Mr Wilson said: "How Northern Ireland deals with its waste is an issue that the Executive takes extremely seriously. In order to escape hefty EU fines we must look at alternative methods of dealing with our waste.

"Sending the current level of waste to landfill will soon not be an option, hence after reducing, reusing and recycling we must look at alternative methods of disposing of the residual waste.

"Waste management bodies such as arc21 (which represents 11 councils, including Belfast) are an excellent example of how councils working together with my department and with the support of PDSU can drive policy and value in waste management for those it represents.

"To that end arc21 will shortly be tendering for the largest PPP contract ever to go to market in Northern Ireland to supply and build facilities which will avoid EU fines in respect of landfill."

The meeting of the Strategic Waste Board was held at the offices of PDSU which was established a little over a year ago by the Strategic Investment Board and DOE to provide planning, procurement and communication support to the three waste management groups.

Following the official opening of the offices by Mr Wilson, the head of PDSU, Alan McVicker said: "The Minister realises the importance of implementing Northern Ireland’s Waste Management Strategy and was encouraged at the progress so far by Northern Ireland's waste management bodies."

(PR)