Leading a transition towards a circular economy 

Out 2024/25 Annual Report celebrates a year of strong progress towards a circular economy, where reuse, repair and community action replaced the traditional take-make-waste model. 

Major achievement from the year include: 

• Hosted “From Niche to Normal” Conference at Stormont and the first Repair Café inside Northern Ireland Parliament building and a powerful moment for circular economy policy visibility.

• Delivered Northern Ireland’s first ever Repair Week, with 50+ events to celebrate repair and reuse.
  

   

• Members diverted over 8,000 tonnes of waste from landfill

• Reuse activities benefitted over 280,000 people, demonstrating wide community reach.

• NIRN expanded to nearly 50 member organisations across all 11 local authority areas, including repair cafés, tool libraries, textile reuse projects and more.

• Introduced new platforms for collaboration, including the Circular Resources Library, enabling member to member collaboration to share best practices, skills and increased knowledge across the sector.

• Launched the pilot Circular School programme to engage young people in waste prevention and develop as agents of change.

In 2024/25, NIRN strengthened its role as a central force in Northern Ireland’s circular economy and turning grassroots actions into measurable environmental, social and economic outcomes. Through collaboration, innovation and community energy, we are helping reposition reuse and repair from niche activities into everyday practices that benefit people and planet.