Council secures £1.7 million to upgrade Recycling Centres in Enniskillen and Omagh

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has secured investment of over £1.7 million from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to upgrade Recycling Centres at Drummee, Enniskillen and Gortrush, Omagh.

The Council was successful in its application to DAERA, securing £1.72 million through DAERA’s Household Waste Recycling Collaborative Change Programme Capital Project to enhance facilities at Drummee and Gortrush Recycling Centres.

The upgrade works are designed to improve the quality of the material collected and the ease of collection and recycling at both sites.

Speaking about the investment, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Siobhán Currie said:

“Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is committed to improving recycling and reusing activities and reducing waste to landfill. Securing this investment will enable the Council to improve the facilities and layout of the sites so that residents can optimise their recycling and reuse efforts at Drummee and Gortrush at no additional cost to the ratepayer.”

 A Spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said:
“DAERA are delighted to be providing this funding to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council so that the Council can promote waste prevention through more reuse and contribute to the local circular economy through increased recycling. The new facilities will increase both the quality and quantity of materials being collected which will extract more of the value of those materials for Northern Ireland and will also divert more waste from landfill. “

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council must achieve a ‘waste from households’ recycling rate of 50% by 2020. Its current ‘waste from households’ recycling rate is 48.7% (2018-19). The Council must also significantly reduce waste to landfill. 

Upgrade works at Drummee and Gortrush Recycling Centres are expected to start in January 2020 and last for approximately six months. 

The sites will remain open to the public during all works however those visiting the sites are advised to follow information and directional signage in place during the works programme. The Council will work to minimise inconvenience to those visiting the sites and appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation during the upgrade works.