New waste statistics for 2024/25 reveal continued progress away from landfill in Northern Ireland, driven by rising use of Energy from Waste facilities, but little movement in recycling rates, which remain below national targets.
Northern Ireland’s recycling rate remained broadly unchanged in 2024/25, according to newly published figures from the Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Rural Affairs (Daera), despite a significant increase in the use of Energy from Waste (EfW) to manage residual waste.
The combined recycling rate for local authority collected municipal waste stood at 50.4% in 2024/25, virtually the same as the previous year, while the household recycling rate reached 51.0%. Recycling performance has shown little variation since 2019.
Composting continued to account for the largest share of recycled material at 27.2%, followed by dry recycling at 23.5%. Reuse made up just 0.3% of the total.
Wide variation between councils
The Daera statistics, published on 11 December 2025, highlight substantial differences in recycling performance across Northern Ireland’s councils.
Mid Ulster recorded the highest household recycling rate at 59.3%, with Antrim and Newtownabbey close behind at 56.9%. Belfast reported the lowest household recycling rate at 42.4%.
However, Belfast also recorded the highest proportion of waste sent for energy recovery, with EfW accounting for 59.5% of household waste managed by the council during the year.
Energy from Waste continues to displace landfill
Energy from Waste now accounts for more than a third of all local authority collected municipal waste in Northern Ireland. In 2024/25, 34.3% of municipal waste was treated through energy recovery, up from 29.7% in 2023/24.
The long-term increase has been pronounced. In 2009/10, just 0.4% of local authority waste was treated via EfW facilities.
At the same time, landfill use fell to a record low. Landfill accounted for 14.0% of all municipal waste in 2024/25, down from 18.4% the previous year. Household landfill rates declined to 13.8%.
Daera said the shift reflects increased capacity in EfW and refuse-derived fuel outlets, alongside policy drivers such as the Landfill Tax and statutory food waste separation requirements.
Recycling targets remain unmet
While the data show a clear structural move away from landfill towards energy recovery, the lack of growth in recycling rates remains a concern.
Northern Ireland continues to fall short of the 60% recycling target for local authority collected municipal waste set out in the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy.
The figures underline the ongoing challenge facing councils and policymakers as they seek to increase recycling while managing residual waste within tightening environmental and regulatory constraints.