AQW 6918/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 20/02/2024
Answered On Date: 12/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) for an update on the Household Waste Recycling Collaborative Change Programme; and (ii) whether this will be reintroduced.

Answer:

My Department’s £23m Household Waste Recycling Collaborative Change Programme (HWRCCP) assists local councils to transform kerbside recycling and Household Recycling Centre infrastructure and services to help deliver a circular economy in Northern Ireland. This is achieved by supporting capital projects that improve both the quantity and quality of household waste recycling collected. Reducing the quantity of residual waste will also reduce reliance on landfill and recovery. Funding of up to 50% eligible costs is available. To date, £4.9m has been made available for nine projects across six councils. Allocations of funding under the Programme must be made by 31 March 2026.

Following the completion of a review of the HWRCCP, my officials have recently written to all council chief executives and directors of environmental services advising them of revised HWRCCP criteria and arrangements for submitting applications. Further information on the fund and application process can be found on the DAERA website.