Knife disposal bins will be installed at three recycling centres in Mid and East Antrim. The council has been asked to join a Department of Justice initiative that allows offensive weapons to be surrendered anonymously.

The bins will be located at Redlands in Larne, Sullatober in Carrickfergus and Waveney Road in Ballymena. They form part of the Offensive Weapon Surrender Scheme.

The Department of Justice intends to bring forward legislation to ban private possession of certain weapons, including machetes, ninja swords, zombie knives and flick knives, under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019.

A council officer told a committee that the bins will be lockable and placed at recycling centres which are locked at the end of the working day. Their contents will be emptied regularly so items do not remain on site for long.

Ulster Unionist councillor Roy Beggs asked for assurance about security and whether the bins would be tethered. The officer confirmed the bins are too large to be removed easily.