Arc21

The NI Waste Management Strategy was created in 2006 and a plan produced.

The strategy will decide how Northern Ireland will manage its waste and could have direct concern for the Belfast Hills.

The strategy document consisted of a range of complex and technical documents, which the Partnership responded to in the consultation process.

Arc21 is a waste management group that seeks to comply with Article 23 of the Waste and Contaminated Land Order 1997.

In 2000, 11 Councils had joined together to form the Eastern Region Waste Management Group or Arc21 for short. These include an area ranging from Ballymena to Downpatrick and from Antrim to Portaferry.

It is Arc21 that awards contracts for these 11 council areas, including existing contracts for Cottonmount and Mullaghglass - so-called ‘superdumps’.

Arc21 has also published a Waste Management Plan, with many issues contained in it such as the requirements for major waste treatment facilities known as "energy from waste" that can include an incinerator.

Arc21 makes the case that these facilities are essential to divert waste away from landfill and avoid massive EU fines.

In September 2008 our black bin waste took a step closer to being processed in a radically different way after an initiative to install new waste facilities was kick-started by arc21.

To do this Arc21 will be building two new types of waste facilities.

One is an Energy from Waste (EfW) facility, which is commonly referred to as a waste incinerator. EfW recovers heat and electricity by burning waste that is not suitable for recycling. Recent press reports have suggested that Dargan Road on the North Foreshore is earmarked for a new EfW treatment plant. The EfW facility is due to be built by 2011 and operational by March 2014.

The second is a Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facility and Arc21 has begun a major procurement process to install two plants.

An MBT system is a form of waste processing operation that combines a sorting facility with a form of biological treatment such as composting. MBT plants are designed to process mixed household waste as well as commercial and industrial materials.

The two MBTs are due for completion also by 2011, to be ready to treat and sort the first consignment of waste in 2012.

The massive contracts to build and run these facilities will attract the attention of international companies, cost many millions and would be expected to run for 25 years.

The plans may affect the Belfast Hills favourably by diverting waste away from landfill.

With the initiative at such a preliminary stage, however, there may be a possibility that one or more of the MBT facilities could end up in the hills.

Partnership Manager Dr Jim Bradley said:

“While the Partnership recognises that waste management operations are and will be in the hills for some time to come, we also feel that these need to be balanced with the landscape, agricultural, wildlife, cultural and recreational value of the hills.”

Anyone wishing to gain further information can logon to www.arc21.org.uk or email info@belfasthills.org or contact the Belfast Hills Partnership directly on 028 9060 3466.