Minister opens new recycling centre in Glengormley

The Minister was welcomed to the event by Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Thomas Hogg.

Also in attendance were local councillors and council management and staff.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council secured £750,000 of funding from the DOE’s Rethink Waste fund for the development at the former landfill site, adjacent to Carnmoney Cemetery.

The new site, which will focus on reusing and recycling waste, will provide a much needed facility in the Glengormley area.

Unveiling a plaque to mark the official opening of the centre, Cllr Hogg said: “It’s a pleasure to be here today to officially open this state of the art recycling centre, providing our ratepayers with yet another top class facility within the borough. This facility will play a vital role in improving our recycling figures, by encouraging greater diversion of waste from landfill. I would like to thank everyone involved for the hard work and dedication that has led to us standing here today.”

Mr Durkan added: “Treating waste as a valuable resource will increasingly pay economic dividends for local ratepayers. Since 2010, my department has provided over £11 million to local councils to invest in recycling and reuse infrastructure so that we can all maximise the value of resources rather than wasting them in landfill. It is fitting that this facility is built on an old landfill site as burying our resources really belongs in the past. Recycling and reuse facilities like this are the future.

“I commend Antrim and Newtownabbey Council for providing this new facility for local householders in the heart of their community. Through working together in increasing recycling we can make this a greener, healthier, more resource-efficient place to work, live and invest.”

For further information about the O’Neill Road Recycling Centre, including details of opening hours, call 028 9034 0056/57 or log on to www.antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk