Derry City and Strabane have emerged as the top performers for dry recycling in Northern Ireland, according to newly published municipal waste statistics from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

The report published by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) contains information on measurements of local authority collected (LAC) municipal waste for councils and waste management groups in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s councils collected 1,010,410 tonnes of waste during 2024/25 which was 1.0% higher than the amount collected in 2023/24.

During 2024/25, half (50.4%) of the waste collected by councils was sent for recycling which was similar to the recycling rate reported in 2023/24.

Derry City & Strabane recorded the highest dry recycling rate at 29.3 per cent and with a composting rate of 18.7 per cent.

DAERA added that differences in composting rates across the council areas can be affected by variations in the urban-rural characteristics of the council areas.

Derry also recorded a lower amount of household waste landfilled by council and waste management groups compared to 2024.

DAERA said in its report that there is considerable variation between councils in the quantities of biodegradable waste sent to landfill, as well as the proportion of biodegradable waste in total landfill. In Derry & Strabane, Belfast and Fermanagh & Omagh over 60 per cent of all waste sent to landfill was biodegradable, whilst in Ards & North Down 40.1 per cent of all waste sent to landfill was biodegradable.

Eight councils reported increases in their waste arisings compared with last year, with Derry City & Strabane reporting an increase of 2.7 per cent compared to 2024.