Recycling plant plan gets council green light despite “danger to human health” claim

Newry environmental firm says they will close if plant goes ahead with loss of dozens of jobs

Plans for a US firm to set up a plant recycling catalytic converters has been given the green light despite claims it “presents a clear and immediate danger to human health”.

And the owner of a nearby environmental business also says he will have to close his operation with the loss of dozens of jobs.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) planning committee signed off on the ‘Techemet’ change of use application this week to recycle car components from across the island of Ireland at Newry’s Carnbane Way. The site is a former demolition contractor’s depot.

However, the approval could now see the closure of the neighbouring Environmental Products and Services Ltd (EPAS ).

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Objecting to the plan, managing director of EPAS, Jim O’Neill told the chamber: “If this application is approved by this council I am going to close our factory in Carnbane and relocate elsewhere. We ourselves have recently signed for a new factory in Houston Texas and have another factory in Stockport, Greater Manchester. “We’ve read in the application that the staff (Techemet) will be wearing masks while they work and this is presumably to protect them from the carcinogenic fibres that are found in catalytic converters. There is nothing about protecting the building or surrounding environment from these fibres being walked out. “There is just no way we can locate beside such a facility and this will mean immediately 29 jobs being lost and eventually 59 in total. I am seriously concerned at the lack of attention to detail, the massaging of information provided to councillors and consultees. “I’ve spent £120k to date trying to protect my company and the health of my workers, and I think enough is enough.”

He added: “In researching this, the carcinogenic fibres are not just airborne, they can be attached to your shoes, clothes and so on. There are also a lot of other severe contaminants. “It has been suggested that this industry is heavily regulated, that being the case because it is dangerous. It presents a clear and immediate danger to human health.”

The site on the outskirts of the city is identified in the chambers as being in “the vicinity of the watercourses of Newry River and Newry Canal, a Scheduled Monument”. A report to the committee showed the original application had been approved on 30 April 2024, but was subject to a judicial review. NMDDC then agreed to quash the decision. The application before the chamber this week represented the reconsideration of the proposal in light of matters raised at the judicial review. The chamber was told by a NMDDC officer that all consultees including the council’s environmental health department were aware of concerns raised and they had no objections to the application.

The Newry storage and distribution centre at Shepherd’s Way will collect catalytic converters from cars, which will then be processed in Tamworth, England before being shipped to the United States in the final step to recover precious metals. A catalytic converter is a crucial part of a vehicle’s exhaust system, designed to reduce harmful emissions. They typically use metals and chemicals such as platinum, rhodium, or palladium. The applicant told the planning committee that the Carnbane site would serve only as a “weigh in” point for car parts that would approximately weigh 4kg and be cut away using “crocodile shears” before being sent off to Tamworth. Whole cars would not be dismantled on the site.

Techemet managing director, Bradley Mills said: “It is important to remember that this is a niche product, there is no specific EWC (European Waste Codes) code for catalytic converters, they have to fall under a generic end of life vehicle waste banner. “Which is exactly the reason we have been advised by the England and Wales Environment Agency to apply for exact waste codes. “All other waste operators fall under the same codes. Just to clarify it is quite evident from the size of the site it doesn’t justify any large scale vehicle dismantling.”

He added: “Use of PPE (personal protective equipment) is role dependent, some roles require them and some don’t. We perform occupational hygiene surveys as dictated by the Health and Safety Executive and we ascertain the risk based on whatever the findings are. “We have been in operation for over 20 years and follow exactly what the guidelines and instructions are according to the Health and Safety Executive.” A majority vote of eight for, one against and one abstaining approved the application.

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