The consortium, which was formed to pursue the opportunity created by arc21’s public procurement for its residual waste treatment project, told letsrecycle.com that the project is “regionally significant” and “strategically important”.
Campaigners are challenging Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure for giving the go-ahead for the controversial incinerator project without a minister being in post. A High Court judgment has been reserved in the attempt to have that decision judicially reviewed.
Yesterday (20 February), it was reported that lawyers for the group opposed to the planned £240m waste incinerator claimed officials have been inconsistent about their authority to take decisions on high-profile issues amid the continued political deadlock (see letsrecycle.com story)
In a statement, the Becon Consortium said: “We note that the planning decision followed the very clear recommendation from the independent Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) report which recognised the strategic need for the facility, its compliance with regional waste policy and the significant environmental benefits the project will deliver.
“At the PAC hearing the facts around this project were robustly considered and any concerns raised through the planning process were addressed in a measured way. Ultimately the PAC made an unambiguous recommendation to the Department to approve the project, alongside a series of planning conditions.”
Becon Consortium said the project is designed to help manage Northern Ireland’s residual waste in a sustainable and economically advantageous way.
50% recycling
The consortium said, in 2017, and for the first time, Northern Ireland achieved a recycling rate of 50% of household waste. And, it explained, in European counties with the highest recycling rates “the thermal treatment of the remaining residual waste is a key competent of delivering resource efficiency and growing the circular economy”.
The statement continued: “The proposed facility will not only contribute to Northern Ireland’s recycling levels but will also make a significant contribution to the region’s security of energy supply through electricity generation.”
“We are committed to delivering this project on behalf of arc21 and we now look forward to the outcome of this Judicial Review process, which we hope will finally allow this strategically important project to proceed.”
Subscribe for free