A PROPOSED shredding and granulation plant in Enniskillen could help meet government recycling targets, a planning report has claimed. 

The new plant is currently being planned as an extension to existing facilities by FM Metals, and is designed to process Automotive Shredder Residue (ASR), Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE), mixed metals and waste tyres.

The facility is being proposed for Lackaboy Industrial Estate, Enniskillen, and detailed plans show a shredding and granulation plant, storage bays with concrete base, tyre baler and drainage infrastructure. 

According to a supporting statement provided to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, the plant could increase recycling rates of ASR (left over components from shredded cars)  and WEEE (includes old electronic devices).

Recycling rates for both of these materials are currently low in Northern Ireland. 

The statement on the NI Planning Portal read: "The ASR treatment process within the proposed development acts to separate the ASR material into its components, yielding more recyclable material outputs including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics/rubber and some grit/inerts (glasssoils). 

"This process increases the efficiency of ELV recycling and will increasingly become necessary in order to meet the new 95 per cent recycling target set  for ELVs by the UK Government.

Referencing WEEE, the statement read: "The UK WEEE recycling rate is only 57 per cent, and there is around 450,000 tonnes of WEEE disposed of through residual streams – the UK Government wants to see more WEEE reused and recycled and has set a  recycling target of 70 per cent for 2030. 

"The proposed WEEE processing activities will help to meet this target by pushing up the local WEEE recycling rate fort Northern Ireland.

A range of statutory bodies are currently being consulted in relation to the plant, including the Council, the Northern Ireland Environmental Agency (NIEA), Northern Ireland Water, and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).