Landfill could supply electricity

The rubbish produces methane gas which will be turned into electricity

A former landfill site in north Belfast could soon be providing electricity to thousands of homes.

The 10m tonnes of rubbish buried at the Dargan Road site produce enough methane gas to power up to 6,000 homes.

The city council is working with Renewable Power Systems to provide the facility.

Underground pipes will be installed to collect the gas. It will be converted into electricity and put onto the national grid.

North Foreshore project manager Susan Quail said it would be 'greener' power.

"We're going to actually reduce the greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and we're going to make Belfast a cleaner, greener place for future generations."

"So this is really a significant environmental and financial project for the council," she said.

It will be the first major project undertaken at the site now known as Giant's Park.

There are plans for a 220 acre public park and a 110 acre 'Environmental Resource Recovery Park'.