Northern Ireland exported more than 16 per cent of the United Kingdom’s total residual waste last year, despite having less than three per cent of the population. Data from waste sector advisors Refynix shows the region’s reliance on foreign disposal has increased nearly two and a half times since 2020.

Most of this non-recyclable black bin waste is sent to Energy-from-Waste plants in Europe because Northern Ireland lacks its own treatment facilities. By contrast, Scotland exported 25,000 tonnes of residual waste in the same period and Wales sent 47,000 tonnes abroad. At the end of 2025 there were 64 operational Energy-from-Waste plants elsewhere in the UK and 11 more were under construction or commissioning.

The infrastructure deficit means the potential value of waste – through renewable electricity and heat recovery – is extracted abroad rather than locally.

Colin O’Hanlon of Indaver NI, part of the arc21 waste partnership, has called for ministerial approval of a £250 million residual waste project that would address the gap. The arc21 facility requires a decision from the Department for Infrastructure to trigger a procurement process, after which six councils would decide whether to proceed.

The project’s website is www.becon.co.uk.