Our cards carrying the environmental pollution hotline number, with useful contact numbers for local councils, have prompted lots of feedback from concerned people living and using the Belfast Hills. To report all environmental pollution incidents, call the environmental pollution hotline on 0800 80 70 60. Alternatively contact the Partnership.

Landfill in Northern Ireland is currently in a state of flux. Firstly Waste Management Licences, formerly issued by councils, were transferred to the Environment and Heritage Service (now the Northern Ireland Environment Agency NIEA) a few years ago. Secondly, Waste Management Licenses are being replaced by PPC (Pollution, Prevention and Control) permits. These new regulations are aimed at bringing in tighter controls.

There are two areas of deep concern to the Partnership. Firstly illegal landfill in the Belfast Hills, and secondly flytipping. In the past, there has been a lot of concern about the perceived lack of teeth in terms of monitoring and enforcement at illegal dumping sites within the Belfast Hills.

The Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP) is a development plan for a large area of Northern Ireland dealing with areas of housing, employment, environment and transport for the next generation. It was launched in November 2004 and covers the City Council districts of Belfast and Lisburn and the Borough Council areas of Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Newtownabbey and North Down.

The Belfast Hills Partnership reviews the planning applications within its operational boundary on a weekly basis and responds under the direction of its Board of Directors.  Examples of the types of applications to which the Partnership responds include landfill and quarry applications and housing schemes. We endeavour to consult with community groups and individuals to express the concerns of local residents.

The NI Waste Management Strategy will decide how Northern Ireland will manage its waste and the issue has direct concern for the Belfast Hills. In September 2008 Arc21, the umbrella waste management group for 11 councils in the eastern region of Northern Ireland began a major procurement process to build two new types of waste facilities - one to include an incinerator.

Waste, quarrying, housing and their resulting traffic are some of the driving issues faced when it comes to the impact on roads that serve the Belfast Hills. These roads are not built for these high levels of traffic especially vehicles carrying heavy tonneage.