City to pay €10m to export domestic waste
Delays in creating a superdump and recycling centre have led to Cork City Council planning an interim strategy to dispose of waste after it closes its Kinsale Road landfill on January 1, 2005.
The city council is to advertise in the EU Journal and newspapers seeking tenders for the disposal of between 35,000 and 45,000 tonnes per year, which could cost it anything up to €10m annually.
The city's senior environmental engineer, Michael O'Brien, said the development of a landfill at Bottlehill and a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Carrigtwohill in Cork is not expected to be complete in time to meet their needs.
He said the local authority would look for a minimum 18-month export contract, with a provision for an extension, if necessary.
"It had been hoped to have alternative facilities in place, but that hasn't happened. It is therefore prudent to plan for the future, and that is why we are advertising the tender now," Mr O'Brien said.
He said it was probably unreasonable to expect any other local authority to take Cork city's waste Unless a major private operator in this country comes forward, it was probable they would have to ship waste abroad for disposal, he added.
If the cost of exporting the domestic waste is higher than the current charges, householders will have to foot the bill through increased payments.
Under new legislation, city and county managers will have the power to decide service charges.
In an effort to reduce the amount of waste exported, new recycling initiatives are to be introduced.
Over the next two years all householders in the city will be issued with plastic bags to be filled with paper, cardboard and cans.
They will also receive a second wheelie-bin for organic waste.
"We will then have three methods of collection for residual waste, organic waste and dry recyclables. All the collections will be on a fortnightly basis," Mr O'Brien said.
Commercial waste will not be accepted at the Kinsale Road landfill after December 31 of this year.
