by Gareth Cross
A new council environmental strategy could lead to job creation in the Derry area, it has been claimed.
Derry is set to implement a Circular Economy/Zero Waste Strategy to help tackle green issues.
The initiative was given the go-ahead by councillors at a meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council's Environment and Regeneration Committee in the Guildhall last week.
At the meeting councillors were given a presentation on the issue by Dr Dominic Hogg from Eunomia, an environmental consultancy group.
A Zero Waste Circular Economy is defined in council's community plan as an economy where “resources are used for as long as possible, have maximum value extracted from them and are recovered and regenerated at the end of their service life to achieve a Zero Waste Circular Economy”.
The plan involves "seeking to prevent waste from arising in the first place, encouraging its preparation for re-use, and prioritising separate collection of waste for recycling and composting/digestion."
In 2015/16 council collected 67,526 tonnes of household waste, of which 33% was recycled.
The presentation was also attended by Eco-Warriors from Thornhill College and representatives from Zero Waste North West.
The committee chair, SDLP councillor Angela Dobbins, said that education way key to making the proposal a success.
Her party colleague Martin Reilly also welcomed the proposal.
Cllr Dobbins said that the Thornhill pupils in attendance were proof that council's green policies were working.
Sinn Fein's Sandra Duffy said that the plan was 'visionary' and had massive potential for the whole council area.
Cllr Duffy said that the plan could also lead to job creation.
UUP councillor Derek Hussey said it was key to show people the direct benefits of recycling and other green policies.
Alderman Hussey claimed that if the wider community could be convinced of the benefits they would buy in to the project.
Independent Unionist councillor Maurice Devenney said the number of people recycling was increasing year on year, adding that when the policy was rolled out it would be receive similar support to the blue bin recycling scheme.
He told the meeting it was good to see the eco-warriors in attendance because 'they are the future'.
DUP councillor Graham Warke said the plan was 'so, so important' for the future of the whole area.
He said he would like to see the eco-warrior scheme rolled out in other schools and community groups.
Councillors unanimously passed the proposal.
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