• 61% of householders say they are happy with how their Council has asked them to recycle, 15% below the NI average
• While 93% of householders say recycling is extremely or somewhat important to them
• 71% of local householders say that they recycle everything they possibly can, compared to a national average of 76%
• 15% only recycle when convenient for them or occasionally and
• Of those householders with a glass recycling service, 5% say they would put glass in their black bin if their recycling bin/box is full

A recent NI-wide recycling poll has revealed that while 93% of Mid and East Antrim householders say that recycling is extremely or somewhat important to them, 71% say they recycle everything they possibly can. This is compared to a national average of 76%.

The survey, carried out by Lucid Talk across all 11 council areas, revealed that Mid and East Antrim Council’s householders were least happy (61%) with their Council’s recycling collection method, followed closely by Belfast City Council (65%) and Lisburn and Castlereagh (68%).

The survey showed that in council areas where household recyclables (plastic, paper, card, tins, and cardboard, etc.) can be ‘commingled’ with glass in the same bin, on average 82% were happy with their recycling scheme.

Over one half (52%) of all respondents in Mid & East Antrim said that the size of their recycling bins/kerbside boxes is inadequate. When asked what size of recycling bins/kerbside boxes they would require, nearly eight out of ten of them said they would like their recycling bin/kerbside boxes to be twice the size.

Joseph Doherty, Managing Director of Re-Gen Waste, said: “These survey results suggest that prioritising convenience is the best approach to ensuring a high level of household recycling.

“Local authorities need to encourage the maximum number of people to recycle the maximum volume of materials. Over half the householders in Mid and East Antrim have indicated that they would like bigger bins to recycle their household waste, and this may be key to motivating the 15% of people who only recycle when it is convenient, to recycle more.

“Also, simple factors such as making recycling as simple as possible by comingling, can be key to helping us all become better recyclers. The councils we with work in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales tell us that household friendly schemes such as comingling recyclables in one big wheelie bin, are much preferable to residents than any pre-sort scheme using smaller containers or bins and that it is actively improving their recycling rates,” he added.

A Council spokesman said: “We commend our residents for their continued exceptional recycling efforts, which data proves are improving year on year. The very latest statistics from WasteDataFlow (verified by DAERA) show Mid and East Antrim ranks fifth in Northern Ireland in terms of recycling performance, and we are building on this and working with our residents to improve these figures further.

“As a Council we are always listening, and we continue to support and encourage recycling efforts throughout Mid and East Antrim, and deliver continual improvements, innovations and efficiencies in how we deliver our services.

“Just recently, for example, we opened a new £1m Household Recycling Centre in the borough, which will service 40,000 residents and is expected to boost recycling in the area by 20 percent.

“Our citizens have also embraced Northern Ireland’s first trial of the Reward for Waste Deposit Return Scheme, with Bin-ovation app downloads recording a sharp increase in the past year as more and more people access information and knowledge about the greenest ways to dispose of their household waste.

“Last year, our residents recycled more than 20,000 tonnes of green and food waste alone, diverting this away from landfill and saving ratepayers’ money. The compost was used as a ‘soil improver’ at Council’s parks and open spaces.

“To assist with recycling, householders in the Larne area are entitled to two 240L blue bins (co-mingled), while Ballymena and Carrickfergus residents are entitled to at least three kerbside boxes to manage their recyclates. All residents are also entitled to two 240L brown bins (for green and food waste).”

The survey was carried out by Lucid Talk across all 11 council areas in March 2022.