Council says ‘green waste’is accounted for in NW

Last week the Sentinel revealed how the DoE was investigating allegations mixed rubbish, potentially originating from local councils’ waste streams, is being illegally spread on farmers’ fields.

Green MLA Steven Agnew said: “Illegal disposal of waste in Northern Ireland is a major problem and that this seems to be another indication of how strong enforcement of regulation is needed.”

The Sentinel asked the local Council if it was aware of any such activity in this area.

A spokesperson said it wasn’t and that all its waste streams were fully accounted for.

A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council explained that green waste is currently collected at civic amenity sites throughout the district.

In a statement the spokesperson explained: “Signage is located at each container on site and contents are monitored by recycling attendants to ensure they do not become contaminated.

“Green waste from the Derry area is then collected by RiverRidge Recycling company and taken to Letterloan in Coleraine where it’s then turned into compost and sold to the public. All facilities involved in the processing of the green waste are regulated by the NIEA.”

The same thing happens in the Tyrone area of the Council.

“A similar process is followed in Strabane, where green waste is collected at household recycling centres under the monitoring of staff, before being taken to a facility called Simpro. Here the waste is used as a soil conditioning material on the owner’s land. This facility is licensed by NIEA.

“Recently a kerbside green waste collection has also been introduced in Strabane, the content of which is taken to NWP where it is composted. “Again NIEA are aware of the facilities where the green waste is sent for processing.”