Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to use a former landfill for these recreational purposes?
Yes, former landfill sites throughout the world are seen as redevelopment opportunities and can provide much needed facilities in cities. The Engineering Design Team, are currently dealing with specific issues associated with the restoration of the landfill site and will oversee that the restoration complies with all the relevant legislation.
How will the landfill be restored?
Culmore Landfill Site will be restored to meet NI Environment Agency guidelines. This involves the placing of a capping system which will:
- Reduce the amount of rainwater entering the old waste and becoming contaminated
- Help to trap gas emissions so that they can be collected by gas wells and be taken away to be burnt by a flare and to possibly produce electricity
- Provide an improved surface for planting and reuse of the site by the public
The entire capping system can contain up to six layers of material. The most important layer used in the capping system is known as GCL (Geosynthetic Clay Liner). This is a man made liner and is used to trap any gases from the waste material and will also stop rainwater from entering the waste and becoming contaminated. Below the GCL is a drainage layer to collect the trapped gases and take them to a flare for burning. Above the GCL is another drainage layer to collect the trapped rainwater and allows it to enter the Foyle without having to travel through the landfill. These layers are protected from damage by topsoil and subsoil layers up to 1m deep which also allows the site to be planted out and reused. In some areas, such as on steeper slopes, a sixth layer known as geogrid can be used to help keep the capping system in place
What happens to the landfill gas given off from the waste?
Methane rich landfill gas is produced when waste on the site decomposes. It is currently collected via a network of vertical wells and interconnecting pipework around the site. Although the gas currently released into the atmosphere, Derry City Council are working with a landfill gas utilisation company on a project to make use of the landfill gas. A landfill gas utilisation company was awarded a contract to utilise the landfill gas on Culmore Landfill Site, if this is feasible. This ‘green’ electricity could be sold to the National Grid to generate revenue for the Council.
What about the ecology on Culmore Landfill Site?
The site has a number of key wildfowl habitats; these include mudflats, upper tidal levels and areas of scrub grassland. These will be required to be protected and/or enhanced as part of our proposed plans.
Can the site be developed for housing or for industry?
Although it is possible for buildings to be built on the site it is not our intention to do so. The site is not used for either industrial or housing use in the Derry Area Plan 2011. Due to the location of the site adjacent to the Nature Conservation Areas Derry City Council would like to use the restoration works as an opportunity to transform the site into a valuable open space which compliments the environmental significance of the site.
What happens to our waste now the site is closed?
Derry City Council is responsible for the weekly collection of household waste from all households within the Derry City Council Area. Each household is provided with a blue bin for recyclable waste and a black bin for waste that is currently disposed in a landfill. Blue bin waste is sorted at a materials recovery facility prior to transportation to end markets for further reprocessing. All household waste from your black bin is currently taken to a licensed landfill site in Northern Ireland.
Derry City Council are members of the North West Region Waste Management Group (NWRWMG). This is a voluntary grouping of seven local authorities in Northern Ireland, formed for strategic waste planning purposes. The NWRWMG is currently procuring residual waste infrastructure to treat municipal waste that has not been reused, recycled or composted. The amount of waste being disposed in landfill sites should decline over the coming years when the new facilities are up and running, coupled with increased recycling by householders in the NWRWMG.
Has any other city developed their landfill site?
SUFALNET (Sustainable Use of Former and Abandoned Landfill Sites Network) is an interregional cooperation project funded by INTERREG IIIC who are who are campaigning for the development of former landfills around Europe. There are good examples of developed sites in Holland and Italy. For example, the San Guiliano landfill. Between 1945 and 1990 industrial and urban waste was in the San Guiliano landfill. In 2004 it was officially opened as an urban park of 60 hectares with 10 kilometres of pedestrian and cycle paths to improve the urban quality and to connect Mestre town and the lagoon of Venice.
In Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council is currently progressing plans to develop Dargan Road Landfill Site into an Environmental Resource Recovery Park and a Public Park called the Giants Park.
For more information please visit:
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/giantspark
www.sufalnet.net