Council’s Event Recycling Stations a Huge Success

20th June 2023

Ards and North Down Borough Council is celebrating the success of its newly implemented recycling stations at Council-run events, demonstrating its commitment to recycling and sustainability.

During the recent Sea Bangor Festival, which took place over 3-4 June, almost 4 tonnes of waste was collected at the supervised recycling point put in place by the Council, of which an impressive 98.5% was sent for recycling into new products.

This marks a massive increase in the amount of recyclable waste being diverted from landfill at Council events. Prior to the new recycling stations being introduced, on-site bins were usually contaminated, resulting in most of the waste ending up in landfill.

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Jennifer Gilmour, said:

“This new initiative is proving to be a great success, not only for our ratepayers but for the environment too. This will also encourage more people to think about what bins they are placing their waste into at home and ultimately encourage them to engage fully in the Council’s kerbside collection services and Household Recycling Centre services.

“It also helps place Ards and North Down firmly on the map in terms of its sustainable tourism offering. It will appeal to people from far and wide, people who are likely to be attracted to our events because of our strident efforts to promote recycling and the wider sustainability agenda. This is a great result for our Borough and I encourage everyone to discard their waste at the dedicated recycling stations at all future Council-run events.”

A full breakdown of waste disposed of at the Council’s Sea Bangor recycling station during the two-day event is as follows:

• 1,632kg dry recycling waste
• 1,782kg organic waste
• 420kg separated glass
• 60kg landfill waste

To encourage members of the public to use the recycling stations at events, the Council is discouraging the use of the nearby public bins. Instead, they are being directed to dispose of their waste at the specific recycling stations where staff are on hand to provide advice on which bins to use.

Recycling stations will be operating at all future Council-run events, including this Saturday’s (24 June) Comber Earlies Food Festival.

For more information about recycling, visit Bins and recycling | Ards and North Down Borough Council

Photo caption: The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Jennifer Gilmour, is encouraging everyone to use the dedicated recycling stations at all future Council-run events. (Image: Ian Pedlow.)