No-deal Brexit a threat to cross-Border waste traffic

THE export of thousands of tonnes of Northern Irish animal waste destined for the Republic could be threatened by a no-deal Brexit, farming and political representatives have said.

Massive amounts of chicken and pig manure are sent to anaerobic digestion plants in Ireland each year to create energy.

If the frontier becomes a border with the EU in less than 10 weeks, no one knows what will happen to this manure, SDLP Assembly member John Dallat said.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) said solutions could involve spreading more on the land, incineration and the use of other waste at energy facilities. Historically, it would have been burned in a Scottish incinerator.

Ammonia levels

Mr Dallat said: “I believe there is now a real risk to our rivers, watercourses, lakes and indeed the sea as ammonia and other nitrates build up to levels that are well above what is considered safe, and we have no Assembly to address this issue.”

He said ammonia levels are higher in Northern Ireland than elsewhere in the UK or the Republic. It is a noxious gas which emanates from animal waste.

The East Londonderry Assembly member estimated that up to 75,000 tonnes of animal waste are sent to the Republic each year for processing into energy.

The UK is due to exit the EU at the end of March but Westminster has rejected the draft Withdrawal Agreement on the table.