SDLP West Tyrone MLA Joe Byrne has questioned the Environment Minister Alex Attwood on the repatriation of waste from sites at Seskinore and Eskra and asked the minister to outline what waste management review is likely.

Mr Byrne also sought clarification if any consideration has been given to the waste-to-energy option that might form part of a comprehensive recycling programme.

He said: "I welcome the assurances from the Minister that repatriation works of waste have begun at Seskinore and Eskra. This needs to be done at the earliest opportunity.

"I further questioned him on what consideration has been given to the waste-to-energy that could form part of a comprehensive recycling programme.

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"The minister stated that there is on-going procurement, by local councils for their waste infrastructure over the next 25 to 30 years and added that the SWaMP contract has been collapsed, for various reasons, and there is a need for certainty in respect of the affordability, deliverability and finances around Arc21 and North West Regional Waste Management Group — the two schemes that are still live.

"I agree with the minister that these matters should be concluded quickly, because I think there is a need for certainty. I hope that on the far side of this issue it would be very much about creating energy from waste, and we should be lessening, as far as possible, the threshold of our waste that ends up not being reused, recycled or turned into energy, so that we reach our ambitions more and more.

"We will then have more reason to portray this part of the island as green and clean, which is all part of our offering towards tourism growth, the character of our island and the quality of our lives. As people know, there are growing employment opportunities around all that. The minister stated that he hoped the recast strategy will be in place by April 2013. We look forward to that."

(CD)