
Suspected illegal dumping sites in north Belfast will be “robustly investigated”, Environment Minister Edwin Poots has said.
The NI Environment Agency (NIEA) has said it was made aware of dumping at Edenderry Industrial Estate on 11 June.
Clearance at that site is being carried out by the estate owner. NIEA staff are clearing a site near the junction of Hillview Road/Crumlin Road.
On Tuesday, an NIEA spokesperson said the site operator had been given notice to clear the waste by 31 July, but the agency was “not content with progress” and has now engaged directly with the landowner.
Mr Poots told the Stormont Assembly that NIEA’s enforcement branch would be tasked with carrying out the investigation, and bringing forward any recommendations to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
“It will be robustly investigated and if the appropriate information comes forward that will be taken to court,” he said.
‘Get your act together’
Used mattresses, medical equipment, food waste and gas bottles are just some of the waste piled up at the sites.
Community representatives said a number of residents had left their homes due to large numbers of rats and flies.
Resident Ashlea Dunn told BBC News NI she had to move out of her home because of the fly infestation.

“I have four children and there is no way I could cook for them with all the flies,” she said.
“They couldn’t sleep at night and were up half the night swatting the flies away.
“It was upsetting I have been in this house for six years and never once have I had to leave my home until this.”
Mr Poots said he was made aware of the matter on Saturday and had been working with officials to get the waste removed.
He said it would be up to Belfast City Council to deal with a “vermin problem” at the sites and that the council was “putting full baiting down”.

The minister said he had been given “assurances” that all of the residual waste – attracting vermin and flies – would be removed by the end of the week.
“Some of the material which isn’t that type may take a bit longer to be removed,” he said.
“All of that residual waste will be removed by the end of this week, but I hope it will be done a lot quicker.”
The minister also warned councils that had not reopened recycling centres yet due to the Covid-19 lockdown to “get your act together”.
“Get the recycling centres open and provide the service you’re being paid to provide,” added Mr Poots.
DUP councillor Brian Kingston said he was “relieved” to see progress made on clearing the two sites.
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He said NIEA staff had been at the site beside the car wash since early on Monday and would have it cleared by the end of the week.
Mr Kingston said he understood that the estate owner would clear the warehouse within a week.
He commended residents for speaking up but said that questions must be asked as to how the warehouse had been “filled irresponsibly with waste”.
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The NIEA spokesperson said the agency was investigating the “unauthorised disposal and treatment of controlled wastes” at both sites.
“This is an issue involving a range of agencies,” they said.
“The Environment Minister Edwin Poots has given his assurance that his department will pursue this case vigorously in the courts and do all it can to ensure those responsible are prosecuted.
“As these investigations are ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.”