01/09/2011

Twin Jobs' Boost Welcomed

News that the Minister for the Environment, Alex Attwood is to see 90 jobs 'created' in Londonderry has been welcomed.

The SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has praised his party colleague's statement that the posts will indeed be in Derry in the Pension Credit service - after Minister Attwood started this policy of decentralisation for these existing posts when he was the Executive Minister for Social Development in the previous administration.

Pat Ramsey said it was a welcome development for the area.

Meanwhile, Alex Attwood has been 'recycling' in a different way and has this week visited Envirogreen Recycling's facility to discover how mattress recycling can contribute to the local economy.

From its premises in Coalisland, the firm handles a wide range of recyclable materials, buying baled cardboard, plastic, metal and mattresses.

He announced that 12 new jobs would be created in the coming year.

Speaking at the facility on Tuesday, Alex Attwood said: "Companies like Envirogreen Recycling play a very important role in the development of the local recycling sector and the new jobs being created is a great boost for the local economy.

"Envirogreen demonstrates good economic and environmental value by recovering all recyclables from their facility in Tyrone.

"One of the most important aspects of the survival of any recycling business is to secure stable demand and to that end, Envirogreen is minimising client's waste, diverting waste from landfill and increasing the quantity of recyclables on an all Ireland basis," the SDLP Minister concluded.

Envirogreen recycle mattresses without using expensive shredding equipment.

Mattresses are dismantled by hand, with all the parts, wood, steel springs, polyurethane foam, wool and cotton separated, baled, sold and re-used. The only component not able to be recycled is the fire retardant cover.

During the Minister's visit, he had the opportunity to see how the company operates as an environmentally friendly operator, using water-saving toilets and taps, low energy consumption machinery and energy efficient light bulbs - with the objective of becoming carbon neutral.

(BMcC/GK)

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