UP TO 150 tonnes of toxic human excrement dumped in Wexford by Dublin County Council last month contained 29 times the legal level of human coliforms, a local councillor has claimed.
The waste, taken from Dublin City Council’s sewage treatment plant in Ringsend was dumped on farmland at Peppards Castle near Gorey.
Waste is routinely spread on lands but it is usually treated to become tillage fertiliser. That removes potentially harmful material such as human coliform which poses a risk of contamination for up to 40 days.
According to councillor Lisa McDonald, a sample of the waste dumped in Wexford was taken and processed by local laboratories Q-Labs and the extreme levels of the coliform were detected.
The waste was also found to contain E. coli and bacteriological readings which were 15 times the legal limit.
Wexford County Council has initiated an investigation and will decide whether the incident constitutes illegal dumping. One of its senior engineers has said the sludge is in breach of government and EU codes.
Dublin City Council meanwhile has said it was a “once off mistake” for which it has apologised.
However, that apology is not enough for Emma Louise Gibson, who lives just yards from where the material was spread. Ms Gibson is six months pregnant and fears that the foul smell may be the least of her and her partner’s worries.
“People in the area have been complaining of illnesses. I fear that it has put my baby’s life at risk. Dublin City Council have apologised but I want to know what they are going to do to get it taken back off the land.”
Irish Examiner
Showing posts with label illegal dumping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label illegal dumping. Show all posts
Monday, 14 May 2007
Monday, 26 February 2007
Agency decisions signal end to 'shameful illegal dumping'
Decisions made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year requiring the removal of all polluting material from two sites in Co Wicklow "should bring to a close a shameful episode of illegal dumping in Ireland", according to its director general.
Dr Mary Kelly said the EPA's decisions in relation to illegal dumps on lands owned by Roadstone Dublin Ltd, near Blessington, and Brownfield
Restoration Ltd, at Whitestown, "should send a clear message to those involved in illegal waste disposal practices".
In the agency's annual highlights report for 2006, issued yesterday, she said enhanced powers given to the EPA under the Protection of the Environment Act for "tackling environmental crime" had been used to good effect by its Office of Environmental Enforcement.
Three licensees were convicted in the Circuit Court and a further 15 were prosecuted in the District Courts. "Those convicted have committed substantial investments - up to €4 million in some cases - to carry out environmental improvements at their facilities."
In December, the High Court ruled in favour of the EPA in two judicial review cases. The cases related to decisions to grant waste licences for landfills at Kilcullen, Co Kildare, and Grangemockler, Co Tipperary. Judgment in both cases upheld the agency's decisions.
The EPA also issued two legally-binding directions during 2006 requiring local authorities to take immediate action in areas where an imminent risk of significant environmental pollution had been identified. Both issues were resolved satisfactorily, Dr Kelly said.
A total of 173 investigations were carried out on foot of 499 complaints made to the EPA about activities that were the responsibility of local authorities. The majority of these complaints related to either waste management or water management issues.
As a result of these investigations, seven directions were issued to Louth, Leitrim, Kildare, Sligo, Roscommon, Galway and Kilkenny county councils, while 92 advice and recommendation notices on environmental complaints were issued to other local authorities.
Frank McDonald
© 2007 The Irish Times
Dr Mary Kelly said the EPA's decisions in relation to illegal dumps on lands owned by Roadstone Dublin Ltd, near Blessington, and Brownfield
Restoration Ltd, at Whitestown, "should send a clear message to those involved in illegal waste disposal practices".
In the agency's annual highlights report for 2006, issued yesterday, she said enhanced powers given to the EPA under the Protection of the Environment Act for "tackling environmental crime" had been used to good effect by its Office of Environmental Enforcement.
Three licensees were convicted in the Circuit Court and a further 15 were prosecuted in the District Courts. "Those convicted have committed substantial investments - up to €4 million in some cases - to carry out environmental improvements at their facilities."
In December, the High Court ruled in favour of the EPA in two judicial review cases. The cases related to decisions to grant waste licences for landfills at Kilcullen, Co Kildare, and Grangemockler, Co Tipperary. Judgment in both cases upheld the agency's decisions.
The EPA also issued two legally-binding directions during 2006 requiring local authorities to take immediate action in areas where an imminent risk of significant environmental pollution had been identified. Both issues were resolved satisfactorily, Dr Kelly said.
A total of 173 investigations were carried out on foot of 499 complaints made to the EPA about activities that were the responsibility of local authorities. The majority of these complaints related to either waste management or water management issues.
As a result of these investigations, seven directions were issued to Louth, Leitrim, Kildare, Sligo, Roscommon, Galway and Kilkenny county councils, while 92 advice and recommendation notices on environmental complaints were issued to other local authorities.
Frank McDonald
© 2007 The Irish Times
Saturday, 17 February 2007
Cork officials close down suspected illegal dump
This fromn Sean O'Riord Irish Examiner:
COUNCIL officials, aided by gardaí, have closed off a suspected illegal dump in Cork, which could contain tens of thousands of tonnes of waste.
On foot of a warrant, Cork County Council environmental officers and a number of gardaí went into the site at Sarsfield’s Court, Glanmire, yesterday.
A council spokeswoman said the site covered a number of acres and while it mainly contained construction material, an initial inspection had also uncovered household waste.
However, she said investigations were at an early stage and attempts to discover what was in the sub-soil were being hampered because much of the waste was lying on a steep slope and officials were concerned it may subside into the valley below.
The slope descends towards the River Glashaboy and it is feared that the waste could cause a water pollution problem, although council officials regularly monitor drinking water in the area and are confident it hasn’t been contaminated.
It is expected that it may take several days, if not weeks, before they can ascertain the full extent of what is buried on the site.
The council said it obtained a warrant against Greenwood Skip Hire on January 24 last and had sent the company, operated by David Greenwood, several notices to desist, which were ignored.
Local residents had made a number of complaints about the site and it’s understood the council’s enforcement section had been monitoring the area for several days.
“Another notice was presented to him (Mr Greenwood) in front of the gardaí yesterday for him to cease trading and not to continue to bury anything on the site. He has no permit to collect waste or to operate the site,” the council spokeswoman said.
Mr Greenwood maintained he’d done nothing wrong and was just importing topsoil onto the site. He also said that no burning of waste had taken place on
the land, despite accusations to the contrary from the council and local residents.
“I have nothing to hide,” Mr Greenwood added.
The council said it would vigorously pursue Greenwood Skip Hire in the courts under section 14 of the Waste Management Act (1996) which, on conviction, could lead to a fine of up to €15 million and/or 10 years in jail. The council said it hadn’t yet ascertained who owns the land.
“The last person mentioned on the land registry is deceased, so at present we can only initiate proceedings against the operator,” the spokeswoman said.
Councillor John Gilroy, who lives close to the site, said he was “appalled” by what he saw.
“There must be tens of thousands of tonnes of waste there. Our main concern at present must be the protection of the River Glashaboy. I commend the council for taking this action,” he said.
COUNCIL officials, aided by gardaí, have closed off a suspected illegal dump in Cork, which could contain tens of thousands of tonnes of waste.
On foot of a warrant, Cork County Council environmental officers and a number of gardaí went into the site at Sarsfield’s Court, Glanmire, yesterday.
A council spokeswoman said the site covered a number of acres and while it mainly contained construction material, an initial inspection had also uncovered household waste.
However, she said investigations were at an early stage and attempts to discover what was in the sub-soil were being hampered because much of the waste was lying on a steep slope and officials were concerned it may subside into the valley below.
The slope descends towards the River Glashaboy and it is feared that the waste could cause a water pollution problem, although council officials regularly monitor drinking water in the area and are confident it hasn’t been contaminated.
It is expected that it may take several days, if not weeks, before they can ascertain the full extent of what is buried on the site.
The council said it obtained a warrant against Greenwood Skip Hire on January 24 last and had sent the company, operated by David Greenwood, several notices to desist, which were ignored.
Local residents had made a number of complaints about the site and it’s understood the council’s enforcement section had been monitoring the area for several days.
“Another notice was presented to him (Mr Greenwood) in front of the gardaí yesterday for him to cease trading and not to continue to bury anything on the site. He has no permit to collect waste or to operate the site,” the council spokeswoman said.
Mr Greenwood maintained he’d done nothing wrong and was just importing topsoil onto the site. He also said that no burning of waste had taken place on
the land, despite accusations to the contrary from the council and local residents.
“I have nothing to hide,” Mr Greenwood added.
The council said it would vigorously pursue Greenwood Skip Hire in the courts under section 14 of the Waste Management Act (1996) which, on conviction, could lead to a fine of up to €15 million and/or 10 years in jail. The council said it hadn’t yet ascertained who owns the land.
“The last person mentioned on the land registry is deceased, so at present we can only initiate proceedings against the operator,” the spokeswoman said.
Councillor John Gilroy, who lives close to the site, said he was “appalled” by what he saw.
“There must be tens of thousands of tonnes of waste there. Our main concern at present must be the protection of the River Glashaboy. I commend the council for taking this action,” he said.
Friday, 12 January 2007
Cork super-dump ... again
Sean O’Riordan in the Irish Examiner writes that one of the country’s largest private waste-disposal firms has resubmitted plans for a super dump to Cork County Council.
Greenstar believes a change in national policy may see it finally get planning permission for a controversial super dump on the Cork-Limerick border. The company was refused permission for the €15 million super dump by both Cork County Council and An Bord Pleanála in 2004, but believes that policy change may see it succeed this time and allow it to bury 140,000 tonnes of waste per annum.
People living by the forestry site at Ballyguyroe, near Kildorrery, have vowed to fight the latest proposal and in the past have won significant victories. In 2001 they succeeded in a High Court action to close a dump in the same area, which was operated at the time by the county council.
Despite the An Bord Pleanála rejection two years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency gave Greenstar a licence to operate a dump at Ballyguyroe.
“The plan will form a critical part of the company’s integrated waste management infrastructure in the south of the country and will primarily accept residual, non-recyclable waste from Greenstar’s recovery facilities and
those of its customers throughout Munster,” a company spokeswoman said yesterday.
She claimed that the 2004 application was refused because it was “premature” in the context of the then awaited revised Cork Waste Management Plan.
“Significant changes in planning circumstances have taken place in the interim and this latest application has particular regard for current national waste management policy, up-to-date published information from the EPA on waste data and remaining residual landfill capacity,” she said.
Greenstar believes a change in national policy may see it finally get planning permission for a controversial super dump on the Cork-Limerick border. The company was refused permission for the €15 million super dump by both Cork County Council and An Bord Pleanála in 2004, but believes that policy change may see it succeed this time and allow it to bury 140,000 tonnes of waste per annum.
People living by the forestry site at Ballyguyroe, near Kildorrery, have vowed to fight the latest proposal and in the past have won significant victories. In 2001 they succeeded in a High Court action to close a dump in the same area, which was operated at the time by the county council.
Despite the An Bord Pleanála rejection two years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency gave Greenstar a licence to operate a dump at Ballyguyroe.
“The plan will form a critical part of the company’s integrated waste management infrastructure in the south of the country and will primarily accept residual, non-recyclable waste from Greenstar’s recovery facilities and
those of its customers throughout Munster,” a company spokeswoman said yesterday.
She claimed that the 2004 application was refused because it was “premature” in the context of the then awaited revised Cork Waste Management Plan.
“Significant changes in planning circumstances have taken place in the interim and this latest application has particular regard for current national waste management policy, up-to-date published information from the EPA on waste data and remaining residual landfill capacity,” she said.
Friday, 8 December 2006
Illegal fuel dumping costs council 1.1m
ILLEGAL dumping of waste fuel has cost a local authority an estimated 1.1 million.
A report on the dumping of a diesel wash is to be presented by Monaghan County Council at a local authority meeting on Monday. The report outlines the scale of the dumping, and points out that it has been unable to take legal action against anyone.
Diesel wash is a by-product of the illegal processing of marked gas oil, which is normally used for home heating or agricultural machinery. Concentrated sulphuric acid is added to the gas oil, removing the dye. The resultant unmarked gas oil is sold illegally as road-use diesel.
The dumping of the diesel wash is linked to cross-border diesel laundering and smuggling. The report says the vast majority is dumped late at night in remote areas, and sometimes in conservation areas, such as recent finds at Concra, near Castleblayney, and
The report says that this year, Monaghan County Council has responded to 18 instances of diesel wash dumping. This is down on 2005, when it dealt with 28 cases, and 2004, when it dealt with 36.
However, while the number of cases has fallen, the quantity has grown. As of November 9 this year, the local authority had dealt with 82,000 litres of dumped diesel wash, compared with 58,000 litres in 2005 and 52,000 litres in 2004.
Customs and Excise has estimated that 1,000 litres of acid wash waste represents about 100,000 litres of laundered fuel. This means six million litres of laundered fuel was produced in the area last year alone.
In addition, the 82,000 litres mentioned does not include diesel wash material found during construction work on the N2 Castleblayney bypass earlier this year. The report says burst containers contaminated the surrounding ground and some surface waters. Some 95 tonnes of diesel wash and contaminated soil were removed for treatment, costing about €100,000. This will initially be borne by GAMA Construction, who won the contract for the road work.
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