Approval for a multi-million pound waste renewal development in Newry is expected to pave the way for the generation of over 120 jobs.
Recycling company Re-Gen’s plans have been unanimously approved this week at a council planning committee.
The Carnbane Industrial Estate business overall will take up to 500k tonnes of raw material for the manufacture of 300k solid recovered fuel (SRF) and 200k dry recyclable per annum.
Managing director at Re-Gen Waste, Joseph Doherty has welcomed the approval of his plans as a long term benefit for the border city economy.
“Re-Gen has a recycling first ethos and we’re absolutely thrilled that our ambitious plans to make the most of waste fuel are progressing,” said Mr Doherty.
The construction will see the building of a four story office block, external storage bays, manufacturing sheds and car parking.
The advanced technology move towards SRF will see Newry becoming a business centre for the development of a high-quality alternative to fossil fuel.
Something which has generated increased confidence in the Northern Ireland fuel industry during a worldwide spike in energy cost.
“Our development will see numerous construction jobs coming to Newry in phase one during development of the material processing facility, storage area, engineering works and office block,” he added.
The new Newry site will not be for the treating or collection of waste, but for the manufacture and processing of material for associated business and industrial uses.
The plans lodged in June 2021, faced no department opposition apart from concerns from NI Water over public sewer connections, which will be addressed on construction.
The company controversially featured in the news in December 2020, following an accidental spillage of two tonnes of plastic waste in to the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maine, USA.
The local environment company, which has since apologised for the accident, has now put in place new off load procedures to prevent any future such spillages.
As a large employer and economic contributor to the Newry area, the Re-Gen company will now branch out into manufacturing solid recovered fuel from residual waste on-site at Carnbane Way.
