Action must be taken to address low recycling levels – Lawther

Alliance Sustainable Spokesperson Cllr Alan Lawther has stated that action must be taken to address the low recycling figures for households. Provisional figures for the first quarter of 2010 showed a recycling figure for households of 31%. These statistics are almost the same for the same period in 2009 but showed that Northern Ireland did not meet its target of 35%.

Cllr Alan Lawther said: “These are only provisional figures, but it is deeply worrying that it is so low. Recycling must be a priority so that our councils are not to be fined by the EU for producing too much waste at landfill sites.

“There are some great initiatives that have been put into place to increase the level of bottle and cardboard recycling but we must now look at other ways we can recycle. Councils and the Executive must take more proactive measures to cut down on our waste such as introducing a levy on plastic bags.

“We need to take recycling seriously so that we can avoid massive fines from the EU.”

ENDS