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Date: 16 Oct 2024
Belfast residents are being encouraged to help boost the city's recycling rate during Recycle Week 2024 (14-20 October).
With around 41% of household waste currently being recycled in Belfast, there’s still room for improvement, and Belfast City Council is reminding residents of the free services and facilities available to support them in reducing waste and supporting jobs locally.
A new Solo Cookbook has been designed to help residents cut down on food waste and save up to £250 a year.
Designed especially for individuals or small households, it offers budget-friendly recipes and free copies are available from the Cecil Ward Building in Linenhall Street or by emailing:
E: [email protected].
Restaurants and cafes continue to sign up to the council’s Cater for Later scheme which provides compostable boxes so customers can take their leftovers home, while a Reuse IT scheme refurbishes unwanted laptops and tablets, donated at household recycling centre, for use by community groups and organisations.
Free bulky waste collections can now be booked online – at belfastcity.gov.uk/bulkywaste – to help with removing heavier items like fridges, sofas, bed frames and cookers.
Residents can also request to try out free reusable plastic-free period products, helping to reduce sanitary waste, or sign up for a free two-week trial of cloth nappies for babies to cut the number of disposable nappies sent to landfill.
Details of all initiatives are available at belfastcity.gov.uk/recycling
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, is encouraging residents to play their part.
“As we mark Recycle Week 2024, I encourage all Belfast residents to keep up the good work and continue to make recycling a daily habit,” he said.
“There are so many ways to breathe new life into something old – whether it’s taking your glass bottles to over 50 bottle banks across the city, donating clothes to friends, family or charity or turning your food waste into compost. Every action counts – and it creates new jobs and opportunities here too, enabling materials to be used again and again.
“Our pre-loved toy campaign is also returning this year and is a fantastic opportunity to give toys a second life and help families in need. Last year, over seven tonnes of toys were redistributed to 700 families and I’m confident we can help even more this year.
“And, with the upcoming expansion of our kerbside glass recycling service to 23,000 additional households across the city, we’re hoping to make it easier than ever for everyone to get involved. Together, we can make a real impact on reducing waste and protecting our environment for future generations."
The council also operates four recycling centres and three civic amenity sites across the city where residents can recycle a range of items for free, including white goods, old TVs, vapes, small electricals and spectacles.
Alexandra Park Avenue recycling centre will be closed for essential repairs from Sunday 20 October for approximately three weeks, but other facilities at Blackstaff Way, Ormeau (Park Road) and Palmerston Road are open 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm Saturdays and 12pm-5pm Sundays (last entry 15 minutes before closing).
For more information on recycling at home and what can be recycled in Belfast, visit belfastcity.gov.uk/recycling