The Drummee Recycling Centre, just outside the county town, is to share a funding pot of £1.72 million, which the Council hopes will help it meet its 2020 recycling rate target of 50 percent. 

Currently, a total of 48.7 percent of all local waste is currently recycled, and it is hoped the upgrade works will help take even more waste away from landfill. 

The funding was secured from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Chairwoman  Siobhan Currie said, “Securing this investment will enable the Council to improve the facilities and layout of the sites so that residents can optimise their recycling and reuse efforts at Drummee and Gortrush at no additional cost to the ratepayer.”

A spokesman for DAERA said the funding would help the Council “promote waste prevention through more reuse and contribute to the local circular economy through increased recycling. The new facilities will increase both the quality and quantity of materials being collected which will extract more of the value of those materials for Northern Ireland and will also divert more waste from landfill,” they said. 

Work is due to begin in January, and while the site will still be open to the public, the Council said those visiting should follow all information and directional signage that will be provided.