A new all-Ireland scheme was unveiled today for recycling unwanted household fridges and freezers.
Ministers on both sides of the border announced M Baker Recycling from St Helen's in Merseyside had been awarded a recycling contract for both sides of the Border.
Two firms - David Johnston Environmental Services in Comber, Co Down, and KMK Metals Recycling in Tullamore, Co Offaly - will collect and transport the waste fridges and freezers to the plant in St Helen's.
The scheme was announced by Northern Ireland Office Environment Minister Angela Smith and Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Mr Pat "the Cope" Gallagher, who said it was an example of how both governments could work together to deal with waste problems.
Ms Smith said: "Managing our waste more sustainably is a major challenge for all of us and this is an excellent example of utilising innovative technology to remove the environmentally harmful substances and recycling the remainder of our waste fridges and freezers rather than consigning them to landfill sites."
Mr Gallagher said the joint scheme was a "tangible dividend for north-south co-operation".
PA