(L-R): McQuillan Envirocare Director Eugene McQuillan; Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster; Environment Minister Mark H Durkan; and Johnny McQuillan officially open McQuillan Envirocare’s new chemical treatment facility in Antrim.
Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan, has officially opened McQuillan Envirocare’s £2 million chemical treatment facility in Antrim, Northern Ireland.
The new plant, which can handle up to 40,000 tonnes hazardous and non-hazardous liquid waste per annum via recovery and ‘physio chemical’ treatment, is based at McQuillan Companies’s Hazardous Waste Transfer station in Newpark Industrial Estate.
Plant offers “unique environmental disposal options”
According to Cecil Hamill, McQuillan Envirocare’s Waste Director, the new chemical treatment facility will treat chemical waste such as coolants, acids, oil/water mixtures, trade effluent, and landfill leachatethrough the use of ‘drum washing, shredding equipment and on site storage facilities’.
He added: “The treatment facility has been fitted out to a high standard with fixtures including an evaporator, oil/ water separators, reactor system, filter press, a tank farm and a complex SCADA (Supervisor Control and Data Acquisition) computer system to control and monitor the plant.
“This facility is an industry leader and offers unique environmental disposal options for businesses across Northern Ireland.”
The company has said that 10 jobs will be created during the first six months of the plant’s operation, increasing to 16 over the initial three-year period.
‘Welcome news’ for Antrim area
Speaking at the official opening on Thursday (3 July), Durkan said: “This new development proves that the local waste management sector is responding to the challenges of waste management in the 21st Century and can provide high quality, high tech solutions to customers.
“It is particularly welcome that these developments are being led by local, family-owned firms like McQuillans. This facility will help reduce waste exports, with multiple environmental benefits including reduced waste transport and reduced carbon dioxide emissions.”
Also speaking at the opening of the new site, Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster said: “The expansion of McQuillan Envirocare through their state-of-the-art chemical treatment facility is welcome news for the Antrim area and demonstrates how a locally-owned, family firm who have been operating for over 100 years can continue to deliver advanced, high quality waste management service to clients.”
She added: “The company is an outstanding example of an innovative business which is not afraid to take a new path in the pursuit of success. This expansion will build on McQuillan Envirocare’s ongoing drive and commitment to sustain and grow their business.”
Read about waste management and recycling in Northern Ireland.
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