A Seasonal Recycling Message

With Christmas well and truly on the way Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is encouraging everyone to continue to recycle over the entire season.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Roisin Mulgrew said, “Christmas is a great chance for everyone to relax and enjoy themselves, however during this time, we will generate a huge amount of additional waste over the next few weeks. Fortunately, with the extensive range of materials that can now be recycled, Christmas is an excellent time to make full use of your Blue and Brown Recycling Bins.”

Cllr Mulgrew continued, “Hundreds of tonnes of cardboard, wrapping paper and Christmas cards are thrown away each year after Christmas. These items along with plastic sweet tins, plastic and cardboard packaging, empty aerosols and drinks cartons can be recycled in your blue bin. Please remember all items placed in the blue bin must be clean, dry and loose and plastic bags and film cannot be recycled.

Cllr Mulgrew added, “The district is recycling more than ever before, and the great news is that against a current target of 50% the recycling rate for Newry, Mourne and Down now stands at 39%. I would like to extend a huge thank you to the majority of us who have recycled so well over the last year.”

To free up space in your Blue bin make sure all recycling has been flattened, such as cardboard and plastic bottles. A Recycling Bring Point can be used for glass recycling, and most points will accept glass bottles and jars, cans and empty aerosols; however materials such as cardboard and general waste cannot be recycled at these smaller sites. Alternatively, use one of the ten Household Recycling Centres which accept a much wider range of items such as Christmas trees, cardboard, batteries, electrical equipment, TVs and monitors.

This Christmas, over 300,000 turkeys will be sold in Northern Ireland weighing a massive 1,500 tonnes, equivalent to over 200 tractors, so remember to recycle all your food waste in your Brown bin.

For more information on recycling over Christmas please call 0300 013 2233 or email recycling@nmandd.org