Mallusk waste incinerator group welcomes Executive commitment to ‘Green New Deal’

An artist's impression of the waste treatment plant.

The group behind the controversial incinerator project at Mallusk says it wants to work with the restored Executive on new waste infrastructure.

Arc21, an umbrella body representing six councils in Northern Ireland, has welcomed the undertaking to tackle climate issues following the return of the Stormont Assembly.

In a statement, Tim Walker, acting chief executive of arc21, said: “The ‘New Decade, New Approach’ deal includes a welcome commitment to address climate change head on, introduce targets to reduce carbon emissions and an economic strategy to create jobs as part of a Green New Deal.

“By investing in new waste infrastructure that meets European best practice, we have the opportunity to start using our waste and resources better to help rather than hinder these policy objectives. arc21’s proposal for an Energy from Waste plant, for instance, will include Ireland’s largest integrated recycling facility.

“While we should be really proud of how much Northern Ireland’s recycling rates have improved, more needs to be done to meet the challenges of the next decades. While we develop green infrastructure, non-recylable waste will continue to be exported to Europe for incineration – an increasingly expensive option – or sent to landfill sites which are nearing capacity.

“arc21’s proposals will address these environmentally unfriendly practices, cut greenhouse gas emissions and provide renewable electricity and heat to stimulate new jobs.”

Mr. Walker added: “At present, households in arc21 councils produce c.250,000 tonne of waste annually that can’t be recycled. This is currently landfilled or exported for someone else to manage. That is unsustainable.