Clean-up of one of Europe's largest illegal dumps 'could begin in 2028'

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Clean-up of one of Europe's largest illegal dumps 'could begin in 2028'4 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleDavid WilsonBBC News NIPA MediaThe minister criticised as 'disgraceful' recent commentary on social mediaWork to clean up one of Europe's largest illegal landfill sites could start in 2028 and take up to five years to complete, Northern Ireland's environment minister has said. The contaminated Mobuoy dump at Campsie in County Londonderry, discovered in 2013, was used to bury thousands of tonnes of rubbish at a site spanning more than 100 acres. Last year, two businessmen were jailed for their part in the operation.

Stormont's Environment Minister Andrew Muir said the site's remediation – previously estimated to cost more than £100m – was "non-negotiable" and "must take place". "There's a number of actions that will take place as part of that remediation and it will take place over a number of years but it must occur because people of the area deserve that," Muir told Radio Foyle's North West Today programme. He said his department was now trying to get a "final cost estimate" for the work.

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That needed "proper process", he said, so "the figures we are going to seek funding for are figures we can stand over". GettyThousands of tonnes of rubbish was buried at the Mobuoy site (stock image)That process will take up to three months, Muir said, and would allow a final remediation strategy to be adopted, a business case prepared and funding to be secured - which could take another five months. Muir added that the procurement of contractors could take place in April 2027, which may take nine to 12 months.

The minister said the large-scale works would require financial support from the UK government and take between three and five years to complete, due to "the complexity of the site". SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says 'a lot of money' is required for the clean-upLast week Muir met local politicians to update them on the planned remediation of the site. But SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan, a former environment minister, told Radio Foyle he was "disappointed" by the lack of new information.

Speaking on Friday, Durkan said work starting at the site in 2028 at the earliest was "indicative of a lack of urgency". "People here have been waiting far too long already for this issue to be resolved," he said. "People will be aware of the pressures on the public purse and I am not confident it will be prioritised by the executive because thus far we haven't seen this treated as a priority.

"Clean-up bill could be over £100mThe figure for the potential repair bill is contained in 2022/23 accounts from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera), which were published in February 2024. At the time, officials estimated the cost at between £17m and £700m - however, that top figure would only apply if all of the waste was dug up and transported elsewhere, which is not what Muir's department is planning to do.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.