ANBCs Van booking system at recycling centres saves council £20,000 and cuts 200 tonnes of waste
- Michelle Weir (Local Democracy Reporter)
- Oct 4
- 2 min read
O’Neill Road Recycling Centre, Glengormley
A van booking system at Antrim and Newtownabbey’s household recycling centres has reduced rubbish by 200 tonnes and saved £20,000, councillors have been told.
A report presented to the borough council’s Operations Committee at a meeting in Antrim Civic Centre recently said that since November, anyone visiting local recycling centres in a medium or large van has been required to book a designated slot. This allows staff to manage the number of vans on site.
If the van owner lives in the borough and is carrying household waste, they are then permitted to access the recycling centres at O’Neill Road and Bruslee in Newtownabbey, and Crumlin, Craigmore and Newpark in Antrim.
Antrim and Newtownabbey’s recycling centres have around 680,000 users each year. The highest number of van bookings was at O’Neill Road (54%), followed by Newpark (34%), Bruslee (29%), Crumlin (16%) and Craigmore (11%).
The report noted that van arrivals are now “spread more evenly throughout the day” with improved access to parking bays, less congestion on site and “increased efficiency”. Staff also have “more time” to assist residents arriving in cars, while the reduction in tonnage has lowered disposal and treatment costs.
Commenting on the report, Macedon Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Foster said:
“People in cars are able to get help without vans blocking the place up. It seems to be working well.”
Threemilewater DUP Councillor Mark Cooper BEM added:
“It is the right way forward, the only way forward. It is great to see it is working. I have seen a lot of tender care given to people with loss of mobility.”
Threemilewater Alliance Councillor Julie Gilmour said the process had been “smoother” and asked if there was any evidence of fly-tipping. Her party colleague, Antrim Councillor Neil Kelly, praised staff at Newpark as “helpful”.
Michael Laverty, Director of Sustainability, told councillors there had been no increase in fly-tipping.
“There are still a couple of incidents but no increase,” he confirmed.
A further report on the van booking system will be brought back to councillors after 12 months of operation.
