A pioneering new facility which will transform wood recycling in Northern Ireland
has been awarded £500,000 in funding from WRAP
(the Waste & Resources Action Programme).
The new plant, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, will be created
by Urban Forest Ltd at Newry, Co Down, and will lead to the manufacture of higher
value recycled wood products. The industrial development land for the plant
was purchased from Invest Northern Ireland, a sale which was completed on Friday
(5/8). The facility will deliver a step change in wood recycling in Northern
Ireland as the first dedicated facility for the manufacturing of a variety of
high quality recycled wood products, such as bedding for horses and litter for
poultry. On completion it will be capable annually of reprocessing almost 35,000
tonnes of waste wood that would otherwise have gone to landfill.
As well as animal bedding products, the facility will also supply feedstock
for panel board manufacturing and fuel for renewable energy production. Urban
Forest Ltd was awarded the WRAP capital grant worth £500,000 through an open
competition process. The funding, which contributes toward the total £2 million
investment in the new plant, is one of four support agreements awarded by WRAP
under this competition to accelerate investment in new wood reprocessing capacity.
As well as investment in plant and machinery, the development of the site involves
improvement to roadways, new surfacing and erection of new buildings to house
the new plant and for the storage of finished products.
“WRAP’s capital grant to Urban Forest has provided a significant boost to
the growth of markets for recycled wood products in Northern Ireland,” said
Stephen Aston, Head of Waste Management, Department of the Environment. He added,
“The continuing support the Department gives to WRAP is a key means of developing
recycling markets in Northern Ireland and getting the most out of these materials.”
Tom Fourcade, WRAP's Material Sector Manager for Wood, said: "Urban Forest’s
Newry plant will set a new benchmark for wood recycling in Northern Ireland
as it will show how sophisticated reprocessing sites can produce a range of
competitive added value products. We are proud to support this investment that
will make a significant contribution to sustainable waste management in Northern
Ireland."
Patrick Durkan of Urban Forest Ltd, added: "The WRAP funding has been essential
to us being able to make this investment which we are confident will create
a leading recycling facility for wood waste in Northern Ireland."
Posted 15th August 2005
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