To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline his plans to promote waste recycling.

I am committed to the promotion of recycling, but I cannot emphasise enough how important it is that we improve how we manage our resources. We need to put as much material back into the system for reuse and recycling as possible, facilitating a move to a low carbon circular economy.

New targets have been set in legislation to drive forward these objectives including a requirement to recycle at least 70% of our waste by 2030 as set out in the landmark Climate Change Act. To achieve this, more ambition is needed. In Northern Ireland, we have already increased recycling rates from less than 10% in 2002 to over 50% in 2020.

Now, we need to go further.

With that in mind, I have approved launch of a consultation, titled “Rethinking Our Resources: Measures for Climate Action and a Circular Economy in NI”, which launched on Thursday 7th March and is available for responses on the DAERA website. The consultation sets out 26 proposals for change.

My department is seeking views from all stakeholders on these proposals, designed to help meet our new targets and I would urge everyone to respond.