Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has agreed, in principle, to introduce an innovative waste collection initiative in the Antrim area increasing the frequency of collections and the types of materials which can be recycled. Estimated savings from proposed changes will be in the region of £6 million over a ten-year period and these will be reinvested across the Borough.
Key improvements for Antrim residents will feature a weekly kerbside recycling service and the ability to recycle glass, textiles and household batteries. All households will be provided with a new streamlined 180 litre black bin for household waste, which will encourage even more recycling and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
This means that staff who have already indicated that they want to leave through the severance scheme will be able to do so on a voluntary basis and the rest of the workforce have been reassured that there will be no compulsory redundancies or TUPE Transfers (Transfer of Undertaking Protection of Employment) to another service provider.
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman John Smyth commented;
We have consistently been one of the top councils in Northern Ireland for our recycling rates and I have no doubt that these proposals would result in this continuing to be the case with the introduction of a weekly recycling collection service in the Antrim area.
The Council is always seeking ways to deliver high quality, good value for money services, and residents will benefit from the £6m savings anticipated from the proposed changes.”
The innovative waste collection initiative has already successfully operated for a number of years in other parts of the Borough.
A three month consultation period will commence soon and in the meantime you can view answers to some
Frequently Asked Questions.
A video by local blogger Gemma Louise Bond (That Belfast Girl) who spent the day with Bryson Recycling, finding out more about the triplestack recycling service can be viewed
here.