DAERA consults on Waste Prevention Programme

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has today launched a public consultation on its Waste Prevention Programme 2026, which aims to establish Northern Ireland’s proposed approach to reducing waste at source and accelerating the transition to a circular economy.

Consultation detail

Points of interest for architects and others working in the built environment could include:

• Exploration of how eco-design and eco-labelling standards could be extended to a wider range of products.
• DAERA’s collaboration with Invest NI to promote waste prevention initiatives, particularly those focused on resource efficiency and industrial symbiosis.
• A notable reference to the Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011, which already require measures to “reduce waste generation in processes related to… construction and demolition…” and to “encourage the re-use of… construction materials and products”, although the Programme does not set out any specific accompanying actions in these areas.

Have your say

The full consultation document can be accessed here, and the deadline for responses is Friday 10 July 2026.

RSUA is considering a response to this consultation. If you would like to share your views, please contact Curtis Large, RSUA Policy and Public Affairs Officer, at curtis@rsua.org.uk