New recycling centre opens in Ballynahinch

New recycling centre opens in Ballynahinch

6 June 2012 - by David Telford

DOWN Council has officially opened its new household recycling centre in Ballynahinch.

The ceremony was performed last week by Stormont Environment Minister Alex Attwood and will play a key role in further reducing the amount of waste being sent to landfill.

The new recycling centre site is a split level facility, with skips located in a central area so people can dump their waste. A one way traffic system is also in operation.

Council officials say the design of the Ballynahinch facility ensures easy access to skips which are three times larger than standard skips. This means the centre will not have to close at regular intervals to allow the skips to be emptied.

Mr. Attwood was joined for the opening ceremony of the £730,000 Ballykine household recycling centre last Friday by Down Council chairman Dermot Curran.

Funding for the project was provided by the Department of the Environment and the local authority.

Mr. Attwood explaining the investment will allow residents to recycle waste more conveniently and benefit from an ultra-modern facility that’s quick and easy to use.

“Centres like this play an important role in enabling householders to recycle more waste, reduce the amount going to landfill and in turn enable statutory targets to be met.

“My department’s Rethink Waste Fund targets a range of interventions which will promote resource efficiency and generate clear environmental benefits, including encouraging the prevention of waste, the reuse of materials and higher rates of recycling, thereby achieving diversion from landfill,” added Mr. Attwood.

Councillor Curran described the opening of the Ballykine facility as “great news” for people living in Ballynahinch and the surrounding area. He said the new centre is further evidence of Down Council’s commitment to improve recycling facilities across the district.

He added: “I would like to thank all residents that currently recycle. For those who don’t, I would encourage them to use this excellent facility in Ballynahinch which is easy to use. It’s cheaper for ratepayers to recycle their waste rather than dispose of it.”

Councillor William Dick, vice-chairman of Down Council’s Environmental Services Committee, described the opening of the new centre as another step towards improving standards of waste management and increasing recycling rates for the benefits of residents the district.

He said the Ballykine facility is a particularly good example of a modern waste management facility.

A wide range of materials can be recycled at the Ballynahinch centre including plastic bottles, batteries, cardboard, paper, cans, wood, fridge/freezers, metal, textiles, electrical goods, glass, garden waste and waste oil.