The Northern Irish recycling industry has been handed a huge cash injection in order to help boost recycling rates in the country.
Environment minister Edwin Poots has pledged a total of £5 million to help fund waste processing and recycling schemes.
Around £2.8 million will be given to 16 projects as part of the Rethink Waste Fund, which offers local authorities grants to install and improve new recycling programmes.
Mr Poots also confirmed that a further £2.3 million will be set aside for further recycling initiatives.
He said: "Waste is an extremely valuable resource and we can no longer afford to ignore this value.
"The fact that £5 million has been secured for recycling in the current financial climate demonstrates that waste is a very important asset for the Northern Ireland economy."
Projects which could be eligible for funding include glass collections, home composting systems and food and garden waste collections.
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the waste recycling industry includes; elevators – bucket elevators – valves
