Clean-up of Europe's Large Mobuoy Illegal Dump Could Start in 2028
Work to clean up one of Europe's largest illegal landfill sites, the Mobuoy dump at Campsie in County Londonderry, could begin in 2028 and may take up to five years to complete, according to Northern Ireland's Environment Minister.
The Mobuoy site, discovered in 2013, was used to bury thousands of tonnes of rubbish across more than 100 acres.
Last year, two businessmen were sentenced to prison for their involvement in the illegal dumping operation.
Stormont's Environment Minister Andrew Muir emphasized that the site's remediation, previously estimated to cost over £100 million, is "non-negotiable" and must proceed.
"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 BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.
Muir stated that his department is currently working to obtain a "final cost estimate" for the clean-up work.
"That needed 'proper process', so 'the figures we are going to seek funding for are figures we can stand over'."
The process to finalize the cost estimate will take up to three months, allowing for the adoption of a final remediation strategy, preparation of a business case, and securing of funding.
"That will take between four and five months," the minister explained, adding that the procurement of contractors could begin in April 2027.
"That process in terms of procurement is complicated. It's important it's done right and would take between nine and twelve months. Thereafter then the works can commence," Muir said.
The minister noted that the large-scale remediation will require financial support from the UK government and is expected to take between three and five years due to the site's complexity.
Last week, Muir met with local politicians to provide an update on the planned remediation.
However, SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan, a former environment minister, expressed disappointment over the lack of new information.
"People here have been waiting far too long already for this issue to be resolved," Durkan said on BBC Radio Foyle on Friday.
"Work starting at the site in 2028 at the earliest is indicative of a lack of urgency."
"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 Exceed £100 Million
The potential cost of the clean-up is detailed in the 2022/23 accounts from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera), published in February 2024.
Officials previously estimated the cost to range between £17 million and £700 million; however, the higher figure would only apply if all waste was excavated and transported elsewhere, which is not the current plan.
The most recent estimate for cleaning the site using various pollution prevention measures stands at approximately £107 million.
It is important to note that this £107 million figure is a "point in time" estimate and is likely to increase the longer it takes to finalize and implement the remediation proposals.
Over 1.5 Million Tonnes of Waste at Mobuoy
Investigations at the Mobuoy site indicate an estimated 1.6 million tonnes of waste are present, with around 627,000 tonnes believed to have been dumped illegally.
The contaminated area covers about 100 acres, equivalent to approximately 65-70 football pitches.
Some rubbish dates back to the 1960s, but the illegal dumping was linked to two businessmen who were jailed in June last year for their roles in the scandal.
Paul Doherty, of Culmore Road, admitted seven charges related to the contaminated dump between 2007 and 2013 and was sentenced to one year in prison.
Co-defendant Gerard Farmer, of Westlake in Derry, pleaded guilty to three charges between 2011 and 2013 and was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
The judge at Londonderry Crown Court said both defendants had "acted deliberately" and were "entirely motivated by financial gain."
