AQW 23499/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 30/09/2021
Answered On Date: 07/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether he will bring forward a ban on biodegradable waste being sent to landfill from 2025, in line with the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee.

Answer:

This is something the Department will consider in the round when it commences a review of our Waste Management Strategy in 2021/2022. To successfully implement a wider ban on all biodegradable waste, which encompasses waste such as textiles and bulky wood waste, the Department will need to assess treatment infrastructure, capacity gaps and resourcing.

There are currently statutory measures in place that limit what biodegradable waste can go to landfill, as well as the separate collection of food waste regime which includes a prohibition on landfilling separately collected food waste. This is strengthened by on the ground policies like support for Fare Share, WRAP’s target, measure, act campaign and my own Department’s social media campaigns.