Waste Management Strategy

Waste Management is a global issue, with implications for all developed and developing nations. It is also an issue against which all elements of the community can take action, from industry reducing greenhouse gas emissions to individuals reducing their domestic waste.

Waste Management policies at a local level have been driven by agreements reached at an international level including the Kyoto Summit in December 1997. These agreements have been implemented through European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) legislation.

The waste management document, published in 2000, sets a waste management strategy for Northern Ireland to meet objectives of the EC Waste Framework Directive. It offers a long-term vision for the development of waste management practices and provides the framework to become a reality. The Strategy has three objectives:

• To reduce the quantities of waste generated and maximise reuse, recycling, and recovery of those materials which enter the waste stream
• Significant effort will be required over the coming years to meet legal and policy obligation by reducing quantities of waste quantities of waste sent to landfill and increasing levels of reuse, recycling and recovery
• To ensure that waste is managed with minimum impact on the environment and public health