Conor Murphy, Minister of Finance, visited Re-Gen Waste’s materials recovery facility in Newry, to hear about their significant investments over the last six months, dealing with Covid19, Brexit issues and innovation projects leading to diversification into new areas of activity.
Mr Murphy was shown around the company’s 300,000 tonnes-a-year capacity facility on Tuesday (August 5) and shown how it processes household waste using its hi-tech equipment and is developing industry leading Energy from Waste technologies.
The Finance Minister also learned how Re-Gen Waste, as a designated essential business, was a vital cog during the Covid19 lockdown, ensuring that Councils’ waste continued to flow and where it expanded operations to support new councils, who came under pressure to process waste during the crisis.
Meeting with the company’s Managing Director Joseph Doherty, Mr Murphy discussed the Northern Irish Protocol and the relationship between NI the UK and ROI after Brexit, immigration issues and future development opportunities for the company, to support the circular economy.
Mr Murphy said: “Waste management is a vital service and I was delighted to visit Re-Gen to see their sorting processes first-hand and hear how they’ve adapted their working practices throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was great to hear about their exciting plans for growth in the Newry area which will help support the local economy and provide jobs in the difficult times ahead.”
Joseph Doherty added: “We appreciate the Minister’s support of our business and the progressive nature of our operations. It was great to be able to welcome him to site and bring to life the genuine impact we are delivering to the economy, through our business operations.
“We recognise that the successes we have achieved so far, have been largely due to our exceptionally hard working and diligent staff, who demonstrate every day that they care about getting things right.”
Re-Gen Waste has delivered rapid growth in recent years, investing £9 million in its operations and doubling turnover in the last three years alone.
