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Northern Ireland spends 170 million on waste management according to a recent NI Audit Report – but what if there was a better way to manage our resources?
We’ve all heard the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” countless times. It’s become a familiar catch phrase, used by recycling companies, local authorities, businesses and education institutions alike.
For decades, these ‘three R’s’ have journeyed alongside a recycling industry that is now valued at £24 billion in the UK alone. Yet, it is now widely accepted that recycling rates have plateaued, with even the world’s top recyclers struggling to surpass a 60% recycling rate.
This reveals a critical gap in our approach to waste management, suggesting that it’s time to rethink these three words that we’ve grown so accustomed to.
The Circular Resources Hierarchy
At NIRN, we believe in a more nuanced understanding of what it means to manage waste efficiently. If we invest more on the actions that come before recycling – namely reduction and reuse, we can push waste up the hierarchy and capture valuable resources along the way.
A vast array of items we choose to toss still hold value, whether in our hands or someone else’s. By reducing what we discard, we keep products in circulation for longer, minimise waste, save money, and reduce carbon emissions.
While many of us believe recycling is the best environmental action we can take, we often overlook the additional logistics required to reprocess all that waste. This ‘get out of jail card’ allows us to maintain our consumerist habits and strengthens the narrative of a linear economy leaving little room for more effective behaviours. If ‘I recycle,’ then ‘why should I think beyond recycling?’
NIRN understands this conundrum and aims to elevate the importance of other actions, like reuse and repair, making them easily accessible choices for everyone. There are many actions we can take before resorting to recycling, such as refusing to buy new when possible, sharing, borrowing, lending, and, of course, mending.
When words become interchangeable, it’s crucial to clarify the specific actions they represent. Take “reuse” and “recycling,” for example – while both deal with what happens after we’re done with a product, they are fundamentally different. Yet, “recycling” often dominates as the catch-all term for anything beyond a product’s initial use. Whether you pass your laptop on to be used by someone else or it’s shredded for material recovery, we tend to label both actions as recycling. However, true reuse involves extending the life of a product in its current form, whereas recycling breaks it down into raw materials for something new. Understanding this distinction is key to making informed decisions about sustainability.
While NRN focuses on promoting reuse and repair, we recognise that a systemic approach to waste management, one that addresses every stage of a product’s lifespan, from design to recovery, is essential for achieving a circular economy.
As we await the implementation of Deposit Return Schemes (DRS), packaging waste reforms, and broader Circular Economy Strategies, we must use the tools at our disposal to reduce waste.
NIRN’s circular resource hierarchy is people-focused, highlighting community led organisations who are driving waste up the hierarchy through rethink, reuse, and repair. Our network members are leading the way in making reuse and repair more accessible and mainstream in Northern Ireland. The pivotal role played by local community groups, social enterprises, charities, and local authorities in reframing waste management should therefore be celebrated.
The recent NI Audit Report on Waste Management reveals that £170 million was spent on waste management in Northern Ireland during 2021-2022. NIRN envisions a future where the same commitment and resources devoted to recycling are redirected towards reuse and repair. To move forward, we must question the familiar, rethink our habits, and embrace a more circular approach to resource management.
