Department for the Economy seeks feedback on Circular Economy Strategy for NI

The Department for the Economy has launched a public consultation on the draft Circular Economy Strategy for Northern Ireland. This draft strategy sets out a vision that by 2050, Northern Ireland will have an innovative, inclusive and competitive economy where business, people and planet flourish, with responsible production and consumption at its core. 

RSUA has contributed to the development of this strategy through our representation on the Circular Economy Coalition and feedback on early drafts.

The current Linear Economy needs changed because:  

• It’s unsustainable – we will run out of those resources and materials
• It’s expensive – we make something once, throw it away, and need to make another
• It’s very bad for the environment – we are creating a climate emergency.

A circular way offers an economic model, that many countries are pursuing, which makes us:

• Rethink and reduce our use of earth’s resources
• Switch to regenerative resources
• Minimise waste
• Maintain the value of products and materials for as long as possible

The draft circular economy strategy’s overarching target is to halve Northern Ireland’s annual material footprint per person to 8 tonnes by 2050. The draft strategy sets out how this can be achieved through:

• Switching to materials that can be reused
• Increasing use of fuels that can be replenished
• Designing things to be kept in use for longer and reducing waste.

Construction and the Built Environment is one of the four sectors that the draft strategy focuses on. As there is potential for reducing material use and cutting carbon emissions, tackling wasteful practices, positive environmental impact, and growing our low carbon economy.

DfE is hosting three online public consultation sessions, dates and times as below. Should you wish to attend any of these sessions please register your interest here.

To view the consultation document, click here.

To view the consultation survey questions, click here. 

RSUA is planning to formulate a response to this consultation. The deadline for this consultation is 20^th March 2023. If you wish to contribute to RSUA’s response please contact RSUA Policy & Public Affairs Officer, Lucy Mulgrew via lucy@rsua.org.uk.