Debate contribution: Disposable Nappies: Collection and Recycling Scheme

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on 27 January 2025.

MLA

Mr Andrew Muir

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

27 January 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Disposable Nappies: Collection and Recycling Scheme

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4759348

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank the Members who tabled the motion for bringing it to the House and for their interest in the important issue of recycling. As we navigate the ever-increasing impact of climate change, it is now imperative that we rethink how we deal with our resources.

Our current linear economy, in which we take, make, use and waste, is no longer sustainable, and change is necessary to embed a culture of value towards our resources and accelerate our transition to a circular economy.

We have made significant progress in managing our waste over the past 20 years, reducing the household waste landfill rate from 72% in 2006-07 to a low of 18% in 2022-23. Meanwhile, the household recycling rate has increased from around 10% in 2002 to a high of 51·9% in 2019-2020. Now, however, we must go further. Members will already be aware of the challenging targets in this area. Indeed, our landmark Climate Change Act set the direction and ambition for environmental protection here, committing us to achieving net zero by 2050 and, specific to our discussion today, achieving 70% of waste recycled by 2030. Other targets in legislation require achieving a 65% recycling rate for municipal waste and a reduction of the amount of waste going to landfill to less than 10%, both by 2035. That means that we need everyone to recycle much more and send less to landfill. To help deliver on those requirements, my Department has recently consulted on 26 proposals for household and non-household waste management, all designed to help Northern Ireland to achieve its targets to improve our resources and how they are managed and to transition Northern Ireland to a circular economy. The key proposals include greater separation of material at the kerbside, restrictions on the amount of residual waste that can be collected from the kerbside and the introduction of recycling for obligated businesses; that is, businesses and organisations that produce waste that is similar in composition to that coming from households. I firmly believe that doing the right thing should not be difficult. To achieve that, I am making sure that we look at the way that we recycle at work, at home, at school and in any other setting that looks the same. Embedding that consistency at the outset of the scheme design reduces confusion and increases participation. Turning to the motion on recycling for nappies and other absorbent hygiene products, I am pleased that my fellow Members recognise the importance of the proposals in the recent consultation and share my ambition to do more to protect our valuable resources and our environment. It is great to see the support today for the need to increase separation of various waste streams and to increase the quality and quantity of our recycling, and I really appreciate that. However, the recycling process for disposable nappies and other absorbent hygiene products is not, unfortunately, as straightforward as it is for other waste streams that we collect at the kerbside, such as paper, card or glass. Technologies exist to break down the component parts of used nappies and absorbent hygiene products, but the relatively high cost of reprocessing those materials and the limited end markets for the recycled content mean that there is only one facility in the UK that is able to recycle those products. That facility is in Wales, and I hope to visit it in the time ahead to see the work that they are doing in recycling and some other areas. The motion asks that the Assembly:

"highlights the impact that reducing residual waste capacity per household will have on those who dispose of such products, as well as the amount of recyclable material lost to landfill or incineration".

I agree that that is an ongoing concern, and it is something that we have given due consideration to, as reflected by the inclusion of questions relating to absorbent hygiene products in the recent recycling consultation. I reassure Members that the outcome of that consultation will include the publication of guidance to councils on provisions for families and householders who are using nappies or absorbent hygiene products, as is stated in the amendment to the motion. The motion further calls on the Assembly to recognise that:

"a nappy collection scheme would support delivery against the 70% recycling target by 2030 set out in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022".

I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment of that statement. The introduction of new materials for recycling will be key to achieving our targets and improving our resource management. However, it is my view that there are other, perhaps more cost-effective and environmentally beneficial schemes that could be implemented to help us to achieve those targets. For example, there have been significant successes in some local authority areas, with collection schemes for small waste electrical and electronic equipment. The component parts of those items can be easily recycled and retain a high value with a plethora of existing end markets. I do not close my mind, however, to the issues that have been raised today. The motion further calls on me to:

"promote reusable nappy products as an alternative to disposable nappies".

I refer Members to the most recent evidence on disposable and reusable nappies, which was published by DEFRA in 2023 and can be found in its report entitled, 'Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK'. That assessment showed that, while disposable nappies had a slightly higher global warming potential, reusable nappies had a higher environmental impact when compared across the life of the product, largely due to the composition of the material, which is normally cotton and is extremely water-intensive to produce, and laundering the items after each use. Following that assessment and with no clear consensus on whether reusable or disposable nappies were better for the environment, DEFRA decided not to progress further policy action on nappies at this time. I am aware that several councils have run nappy reuse schemes across Northern Ireland, offering up to £30 reimbursement to residents who spend £50 or more on reusable cloth nappies. Some councils work with the Library Group to offer a two-week trial pack to residents that includes cloth nappies and reusable wipes. My Department's waste prevention programme includes actions on reuse and repair, and I am aware of the potential cost benefits to families of using reusables as opposed to disposables. There are no specific actions in that programme on nappies and absorbent hygiene products, but that is due to be reviewed in the coming months, and the inclusion of reusable nappies will be considered as part of that. The final part of the motion calls on me:

"to develop a strategy in conjunction with local councils for the collection and recycling of disposable nappies and other absorbent hygiene products in Northern Ireland."

I am keen to explore any option that will help to enhance our environment and improve the lives of our citizens. The first steps in that process will be to determine the feasibility of a scheme for the collection of nappies and other absorbent hygiene products in Northern Ireland. As part of that process, I will encourage councils to work with my officials, engaging through existing channels, to share views and experiences and to bring forward proposals that, they believe, would help to deliver our shared ambitions. I will also welcome input from those in private industry who may view this as an opportunity to develop their business and, in turn, enhance our circular economy. As well as the need to understand the environmental benefits or, indeed, disbenefits in a time of constrained budgets, it is vital to ensure that any scheme would not place an undue burden on taxpayers. In the interim, I will put the focus on other waste streams and on growing the collection of those. I reiterate my commitment to exploring the issue, but I cannot be the only person left holding the baby, and we have to work with district councils. There are many opportunities for councils to collect different waste streams, many of which command a high value for recycling and have established end markets. The matter of our waste and resources and dealing with waste sustainably is an extremely important issue with which Members are rightly concerned, and I welcome the motion and the amendment. I reassure Members that future policy decisions on waste and improving our recycling will be based on the best available evidence to ensure that we are well placed to meet our legislative targets. My vision for Northern Ireland is a strong, green economy that values its resources and actively closes the loop by putting as many resources as possible back into the system. I wholly agree with the sentiment of the motion to increase recycling and reduce what we send to landfill. I thank the Members who tabled the motion, and I thank Members for the interesting, challenging and respectful debate that it stimulated. I will say one final thing about the remarks of Matthew O'Toole. He referenced the fact that these institutions were set up as a result of an international agreement in 1998. The institutions have been down for an awfully long time, and this place is not like a computer: you cannot switch it off and switch it on again and expect it to work exactly as before. We need stable institutions so that we can have a very defined legislative programme as we move from one mandate to another. The institutions were restored just about a year ago, and I am putting my heart and soul into working them and delivering for people. However, the impact of collapse is significant, and that is why we need to reform these institutions, so that we can deliver for everyone in Northern Ireland.

Yes, I am happy to.

I am aware of Madam Principal Deputy Speaker's guidance on the wider issue. We are discussing the motion, and I am outlining to the Member the reason why delivering legislation in this place can sometimes be slower than anticipated. That is not from a desire on my part not to progress things. I am committed to delivering for the people of Northern Ireland on this and other issues. People in Northern Ireland look to us in this place to work together and deliver for them, and I am committed to doing that, alongside others. I hope that we can agree on the motion and can continue to work not just in this place but with local government to deliver on issues that matter to the people of Northern Ireland.

1,776 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:51 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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