A landfill site near The Naul, in north Co Dublin, could become the location for Ireland's first "national facility" for the treatment of hazardous ash generated by municipal waste incinerators.
Planning permission for the project is to be sought from An Bord Pleanála by Murphy Environmental Hollywood Ltd (MEHL), which already operates an inert landfill in Hollywood, The Naul.
The company said the site is strategically located between the Indaver incinerator now under construction in Duleek, Co Meath and the proposed Dublin City Council facility planned for Poolbeg.
It said the project is in line with the Environmental Protection Agency's Hazardous Waste Management Plan and the National Development Plan and should therefore qualify as "strategic infrastructure".
MEHL has requested a pre-application consultation with An Bord Pleanála to determine whether the application can be considered under the Strategic Infrastructure Act, bypassing Fingal County Council.
The company is to seek approval for a change of use of the existing landfill at Hollywood while "maintaining its current annual capacity limit". A separate EPA waste management licence will also be sought.
"All waste treated at the facility will be non-biodegradable meaning it will not accept food waste and consequently have no odours, no methane, no vermin and no impact on greenhouse gases", it said.
"The facility is expected to create more than 50 construction jobs and take 12-months to complete. Once operational, it is anticipated an additional ten people will be employed directly", the company added.
The announcement was made a day after the Irish Waste Management Association highlighted the absence of any facility here to treat incinerator ash and called for a ban on its export to other countries.
MEHL general manager Patricia Rooney said exporting ash not only is resulted in considerable expense, but was also contrary to EU directives requiring each member state to deal with its own waste.
However Minister for Food and Horticulture Trevor Sargent yesterday said he feared the toxic ash repository could damage farm production in north Fingal
The Green TD for Dublin North said he had made his feelings on the matter known to Minister for the Environment John Gormley.
Meanwhile Mr Gormley said that a contract signed by Dublin City Council to develop the incinerator at Poolbeg in Dublin may be anti-competitive.
John Gormley said he had written to the city manager to express his concern about the contract.
Speaking at an Environmental conference yesterday, Mr Gormley said he had examined the council contract and had taken legal and economic advice and had written to the city manager about his concerns.
"If you have an incinerator of that size for 25 or 30 years… where you have a contract that guarantees the waste, you are drowning out competition, that is of concern," he said.
He said other operators in the industry would not invest knowing that they cannot compete with a facility of the size of that planned for Poolbeg.
"I have always said that 600,000 tonnes does not make sense," the Minister said. The council would have to "go back to the drawing board" if the contract proved to be anti-competitive, he said.
He also said he was prepared to look at a letter from the Irish Waste Association that recommended banning the export of incinerator ash.
On Monday the consortium behind the Poolbeg incinerator, Dublin Waste to Energy Ltd, said that the Dublin waste plan requires that the ash from the Poolbeg plant be recycled and not sent to landfill.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label planning and incineration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label planning and incineration. Show all posts
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Gormley circular places emphasis away from incineration
Anti-incinerator lobby groups have welcomed a circular sent by Environment Minister John Gormley to all local authorities and to An Bord Pleanála outlining how department waste strategy is to be directed away from incineration towards sustainable waste management.
Planning permission has been granted for two incinerators in Co Meath and at Poolbeg in Dublin and an An Bord Pleanála hearing is underway in Cork into a proposed €150 million hazardous and municipal waste incinerator in Cork Harbour.
Incineration is a key focus of the National Development Plan, but the programme for government by the Green Party and Fianna Fáil calls for this role to be reduced in favour of the mechanical and biological treatment of waste.
The recent circular states that, as Ireland will have to comply with the landfill directive from next year and will face fines of up to €500,000 per day unless we radically reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill, the Minister is pressing ahead with initiatives to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill.
In the circular, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and city and county councils have been ordered to limit 'incineration capacity, to ensure that waste is not drawn to incineration which could have been dealt with by recycling or other methods higher up the waste hierarchy'. Furthermore, they are to 'refrain from exercising their powers in such a way as to direct waste to landfill or incineration'.
Cork Harbour for a Safe Environment (CHASE), which has fought Indaver’s incinerator plans for over seven years, welcomed the Minister’s "clarification". "This policy movement away from incineration, towards waste minimisation and resource-focused solutions is very significant. This clear move away from incineration leaves Indaver’s proposed incinerator with no role to play in waste management" - a spokeswoman said.
An Indaver spokesman said that the comments by the Minister would make no difference to the viability of the proposed Cork incinerator. "The minister has also, in the past, put on the record that incineration is a part of the waste solution" - he said.
www.buckplanning.ie
Planning permission has been granted for two incinerators in Co Meath and at Poolbeg in Dublin and an An Bord Pleanála hearing is underway in Cork into a proposed €150 million hazardous and municipal waste incinerator in Cork Harbour.
Incineration is a key focus of the National Development Plan, but the programme for government by the Green Party and Fianna Fáil calls for this role to be reduced in favour of the mechanical and biological treatment of waste.
The recent circular states that, as Ireland will have to comply with the landfill directive from next year and will face fines of up to €500,000 per day unless we radically reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill, the Minister is pressing ahead with initiatives to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill.
In the circular, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and city and county councils have been ordered to limit 'incineration capacity, to ensure that waste is not drawn to incineration which could have been dealt with by recycling or other methods higher up the waste hierarchy'. Furthermore, they are to 'refrain from exercising their powers in such a way as to direct waste to landfill or incineration'.
Cork Harbour for a Safe Environment (CHASE), which has fought Indaver’s incinerator plans for over seven years, welcomed the Minister’s "clarification". "This policy movement away from incineration, towards waste minimisation and resource-focused solutions is very significant. This clear move away from incineration leaves Indaver’s proposed incinerator with no role to play in waste management" - a spokeswoman said.
An Indaver spokesman said that the comments by the Minister would make no difference to the viability of the proposed Cork incinerator. "The minister has also, in the past, put on the record that incineration is a part of the waste solution" - he said.
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Cork harbour residents may escape costs
ANTI-INCINERATION campaigners have welcomed a decision by Minister for the Environment John Gormley to ask the Supreme Court to formally revoke a costs order awarded to the State two weeks ago against Cork harbour residents.
A spokeswoman for Cork Harbour Area for a Safe Environment (Chase) said she was "delighted and proud" that the State, along with Mr Gormley and his department, saw fit not to enforce the costs order.
Chase noted that incineration company Indaver had declined to follow suit.
It has also emerged that High Court cases against An Bord Pleanála, the Environmental Protection Agency, the State and the Attorney General have been withdrawn on the agreement of all parties.
The request was made by the residents on the basis that planning for the Ringaskiddy incinerator expired in January 2009 and at that stage there would be no justification in proceeding with the court cases.
All parties except An Bord Pleanála have agreed to bear their own High Court costs.
An Bord Pleanála has made a formal request for a costs order, which was opposed by the residents and which will be heard by the court next Monday.
A spokeswoman for Chase said it was an important day for community participation.
"We are delighted and proud. By the time Indaver's planning expires in January 2009, we expect to be fighting new fast-track proposals for 100,000-tonne hazardous and 140,000-tonne municipal waste incinerators."
On November 11th, the Supreme Court ordered the Ringaskiddy and District Residents Association and a number of individuals to pay the legal costs of their unsuccessful attempts to further adjourn two legal challenges to the proposed €75 million development of the State's first hazardous waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy.
The residents had sought the adjournments pending the outcome of a legal action against Ireland in the European Court of Justice by the European Commission.
The action is based on the commission's formal view that Ireland has failed to properly transpose into Irish law an EC directive relating to the environmental impact assessment of public and private projects, including incinerators.
Labour TD for Cork South Central and party spokesman on local government Ciarán Lynch also welcomed the decision by the State not to pursue costs, saying "it would seem that common sense" had prevailed.
"The motivations of the Chase campaign group have always been to act in the public interest and they took this case for the important purpose of clarifying the law and ensuring proper planning," Mr Lynch said.
"It is important that the concept and the principle of the participation by community groups in public debate and public campaigns be upheld, because otherwise the planning process is in danger of becoming little more than a charter for the rich and powerful."
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
A spokeswoman for Cork Harbour Area for a Safe Environment (Chase) said she was "delighted and proud" that the State, along with Mr Gormley and his department, saw fit not to enforce the costs order.
Chase noted that incineration company Indaver had declined to follow suit.
It has also emerged that High Court cases against An Bord Pleanála, the Environmental Protection Agency, the State and the Attorney General have been withdrawn on the agreement of all parties.
The request was made by the residents on the basis that planning for the Ringaskiddy incinerator expired in January 2009 and at that stage there would be no justification in proceeding with the court cases.
All parties except An Bord Pleanála have agreed to bear their own High Court costs.
An Bord Pleanála has made a formal request for a costs order, which was opposed by the residents and which will be heard by the court next Monday.
A spokeswoman for Chase said it was an important day for community participation.
"We are delighted and proud. By the time Indaver's planning expires in January 2009, we expect to be fighting new fast-track proposals for 100,000-tonne hazardous and 140,000-tonne municipal waste incinerators."
On November 11th, the Supreme Court ordered the Ringaskiddy and District Residents Association and a number of individuals to pay the legal costs of their unsuccessful attempts to further adjourn two legal challenges to the proposed €75 million development of the State's first hazardous waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy.
The residents had sought the adjournments pending the outcome of a legal action against Ireland in the European Court of Justice by the European Commission.
The action is based on the commission's formal view that Ireland has failed to properly transpose into Irish law an EC directive relating to the environmental impact assessment of public and private projects, including incinerators.
Labour TD for Cork South Central and party spokesman on local government Ciarán Lynch also welcomed the decision by the State not to pursue costs, saying "it would seem that common sense" had prevailed.
"The motivations of the Chase campaign group have always been to act in the public interest and they took this case for the important purpose of clarifying the law and ensuring proper planning," Mr Lynch said.
"It is important that the concept and the principle of the participation by community groups in public debate and public campaigns be upheld, because otherwise the planning process is in danger of becoming little more than a charter for the rich and powerful."
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 21 November 2008
Rathcoole anti-incinerator group to seek costs from firm
A GROUP opposed to the building of an incinerator at Rathcoole in west Dublin is to seek to have its costs paid by the company proposing the development, Energy Answers International.
Rathcoole Against Incineration Dioxins (Raid) is giving evidence at a Bord Pleanála hearing on the proposed €200 million incinerator, energy recovery facility and concrete plant.
Raid said it would lodge a claim for about €55,000 with inquiry inspector Michael Dillon before the close of the inquiry, expected in early December.
Under legislation governing strategic infrastructure applications Bord Pleanála may direct the applicant to pay all or some of the costs of other parties.
Outlining its case yesterday, Raid called a range of expert witnesses including lawyers, planning and transport specialists, biologists, a biochemist and representatives of the bloodstock industry.
Spokesman Liam McDermott said Raid believed it was correct that its costs should be borne by Energy Answers. "If they put us to such trouble and expense it should be [they] who pay for it," he said.
Horse breeder and broadcaster Ted Walsh said "incinerators are bad neighbours" and that putting one in Rathcoole would be putting substantial bloodstock interests in Co Kildare at risk.
Consultant ecologist Mieke Muyllaert said the site was "of greater biodiversity significance than suggested by the environmental impact statement".
Transportation expert Christy O'Sullivan said there were significant dangers posed for traffic on the N7; during the construction of the plant, there would be 500 vehicle movements on the road per day, and 428 during its operation. Dangers were also likely to arise at the junction of the slip-road from the plant.
Biochemist Deborah McDermott was incredulous that the applicant had claimed the boiler ash did not qualify as hazardous waste. "As there is no toxic landfill in the Republic of Ireland one must ask . . . where will this toxic waste go?" she said. Rónán Mac Diarmada, an agricultural scientist, said the drawings in the application were flawed. "The landscape drawing is unsatisfactory in terms of detail and accuracy. The site boundary does not correlate with other consultants' drawings. The site layout does not show levels and does not correspond to engineers' drawings."
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Rathcoole Against Incineration Dioxins (Raid) is giving evidence at a Bord Pleanála hearing on the proposed €200 million incinerator, energy recovery facility and concrete plant.
Raid said it would lodge a claim for about €55,000 with inquiry inspector Michael Dillon before the close of the inquiry, expected in early December.
Under legislation governing strategic infrastructure applications Bord Pleanála may direct the applicant to pay all or some of the costs of other parties.
Outlining its case yesterday, Raid called a range of expert witnesses including lawyers, planning and transport specialists, biologists, a biochemist and representatives of the bloodstock industry.
Spokesman Liam McDermott said Raid believed it was correct that its costs should be borne by Energy Answers. "If they put us to such trouble and expense it should be [they] who pay for it," he said.
Horse breeder and broadcaster Ted Walsh said "incinerators are bad neighbours" and that putting one in Rathcoole would be putting substantial bloodstock interests in Co Kildare at risk.
Consultant ecologist Mieke Muyllaert said the site was "of greater biodiversity significance than suggested by the environmental impact statement".
Transportation expert Christy O'Sullivan said there were significant dangers posed for traffic on the N7; during the construction of the plant, there would be 500 vehicle movements on the road per day, and 428 during its operation. Dangers were also likely to arise at the junction of the slip-road from the plant.
Biochemist Deborah McDermott was incredulous that the applicant had claimed the boiler ash did not qualify as hazardous waste. "As there is no toxic landfill in the Republic of Ireland one must ask . . . where will this toxic waste go?" she said. Rónán Mac Diarmada, an agricultural scientist, said the drawings in the application were flawed. "The landscape drawing is unsatisfactory in terms of detail and accuracy. The site boundary does not correlate with other consultants' drawings. The site layout does not show levels and does not correspond to engineers' drawings."
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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