
Recycling
In Northern Ireland we recycle over 50% of our household waste each year.
We have made great strides in the amount of household waste recycled, increasing the percentage from 30% in 2008/09 to over 50% in 2018/19. But there is still more that we can do.
From information on food waste recycling to understanding what can and can’t be recycled in your area, we have you covered.

Figures based on the Northern Ireland local authority collected municipal waste management statistics time series dataset https://datavis.nisra.gov.uk/daera/northern-ireland-waste-management-statistics.html#key-indicators
Unsure what items to put in your home recycling or where to recycle a specific item?
The Recycling Locator tells you everything you need to know to ensure that you are never left wondering what bin to put your recyclable items into or where to take items that aren’t collected during normal household collections.
Recycling at home
Most of us are very good at recycling at home, but could you be doing more? Check out these blogs for some inspiration on how to take your recycling game to the next level.

Recycling Around Your Home
Recycling Around Your Home Problem?Some us keep a little bin in every room, matching them in with our style, relying on them to help keep

Recycling Symbols – What do they all mean?
Recycling Symbols – What do they all mean? The on-pack recycling label (or OPRL) Look out for the following labels which appear on all sorts

Recycling Beyond the Kerb
Recycling Beyond the Kerb Recyling at Home By now, you’re used to keeping different bins in your house for different kerbside collections. Recycling – TICK,

7 Top Tips For Recycling Your Food Waste
Food waste that is sent to landfill doesn’t harmlessly breakdown. It has a big impact on the environment as it rots and releases methane.

5 Ways to Get Creative With Your Food Waste
5 Ways to Get Creative With Your Food Waste All food waste can be thrown into your food caddy, but before it goes off to

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Food Waste Recycling in Northern Ireland
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Food Waste Recycling in Northern Ireland 1. Recycled Food Waste Recycled food waste, that includes potato peelings, egg shells,

5 Food Waste Myths Busted
5 Food Waste Myths Busted 1. It’s messy! False! To replace the ‘ick’ with ‘slick’ and make recycling banana peelings more ap-pealing (ahem) you should:

Things Around the Home You Didn’t Know You Can Recycle
Things Around the Home You Didn’t Know You Can Recycle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLktjtlXCNo Bathroom Recycling There are lots of items in the bathroom waiting to be recycled:

Food Waste Recycling
Recycling your food waste instead of putting it in the bin only takes a little effort and is an easy way to help protect the
Household Recycling Centres
Many items that you cannot put in your recycling bins or kerbside boxes can still be recycled at your local Household Recycling Centre.
Read the blogs below for information on how to make the most of the local recycling resources available to you.
Visit local councils in Northern Ireland to find out more about the recycling services and facilities in your area.

Making the most of your local Household Recycling Centre (HRCs)
Most HRCs can recycle paper, glass and plastics (just like your kerbside service) but you can take much more than that to your local HRC.

Household Recycling Centre Map
There are over 90 Household Recycling Centres in Northern Ireland
Recycling hard to recycle items
Recycling has come a long way in the past 20 years but there are still lots of hard to recycle items that aren’t yet recycled by local authorities in Northern Ireland, such as crisp packets, bread bags, cheese, and confectionery packaging.
This is where organisations such as TerraCycle can help. TerraCycle offers free recycling programmes funded by environmentally conscientious brands, manufacturers, and retailers around the world to help you collect and recycle your hard-to-recycle waste.
TerraCycle currently operates over 50 programmes across the UK for hard to recycle items, assisted by an army of volunteers. These programmes cover everything from writing equipment to PPE, and much more in between.
Many of these programmes reward you with TerraCycle points which are then redeemable for a cash payment to the non-profit organisation or school of your choice, product bundles, collection materials, and other charitable gifts.
Take a look at the programmes TerraCycle offers to see if they are running in your area and to find your nearest drop-off location. Or even better, why not set one up yourself.

Terracycle East Belfast
Terracycle East Belfast began in early 2019 with an intriguing chat about recycling empty crisp packets.

TerraCycling with Recycle for Kicks Count NI
TerraCycling with Recycle for Kicks Count NI Recycle for Kicks Count NI is a small dedicated group of volunteers collecting hard to recycle items not

From Crisp Packets to New Shoes; Recycling the Unrecyclable
From Crisp Packets to New Shoes; Recycling the Unrecyclable Northern Ireland recycles. Yeah, yeah, we know you know – but do you know how good
More useful links
- Waste – DAERA – learn more about waste strategy, regulations and legislation in Northern Ireland.
- Waste and Recycling – NIDirect – information on waste, recycling, bin collection, and disposal of unusual or hazardous waste in Northern Ireland.
- Recycle Now – all you need to know about recycling in your local area.