McGrath calls on Minister to limit waste at Warrenpoint Port

It comes after a long-running dispute with local residents complaining about a bad smell emanating from a recycling facility in the area.

Mr McGrath has uncovered that the current waste limit that can be stored at any one time, which is currently 20,000 tonnes, has been set by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

South Down MLA Mr McGrath said: “I have been working with local residents, campaigners and other stakeholders involved for some time to try and find a permanent solution to the foul odour that has blighted the lives of people living in this area. For over a year they have been dealing with foul smells emanating from the port, where the waste has been stored.

“Nobody should be confronted by a smell of this nature while trying to go about their lives and it is imperative that the concerns of people in Warrenpoint are taken seriously by the Minister.

“Through representations I have recently uncovered the current limit on waste which can be stored at any one time is 20,000 tonnes and has been set by the NIEA. However, people in Warrenpoint know all too well that problems with the smell begin when waste has been stored over a protracted period of time and when levels stored rise.

“It seems obvious that reducing the limit on waste in this area would go a long way to solving this issue.

"Therefore, I have contacted the Minister and DAERA calling for them to undertake a review of the 20,000-tonnage level and to consider lowering it to a more appropriate level. This situation has dragged on far too long and residents are understandably frustrated at the department’s failure to get to grips with this issue. I urge the Minister to look seriously at our proposal and put the necessary limits in place so that nobody in this area is negatively impacted by the recycling facility at our port.”